The reauthorization of flights over Libya by French airlines since the end of March is causing concern among some Air France flight crew unions, according to several French media sources yesterday.<\/p>\n
For the past month, Air France has been flying over Libya again, in order to save fuel on several flights to Africa \u2013 in view of the shortage and increase in price of fuel prices. However, the decision is worrying the union of hostesses and stewards, the SNPNCFO.<\/p>\n
It considers the decision irresponsible and warns that these two professions do not have a right of withdrawal from Air France and adds that the European Air Transport Authority itself recommends not to fly over Libya.<\/p>\n
On the other hand, Air France insists that the French Directorate General of Civil Aviation has given its agreement to fly over Libya again in a very specific corridor, and that many companies already fly over the area daily, Qatar Airways, Emirates, EgyptAir, Turkish Airlines.<\/p>\n
For Air France, flying over Libya saves time to reach certain African cities from Paris, saving 47 minutes for Kinshasa, 52 minutes for Johannesburg. Internally, they refute any desire to save fuel at all costs, they say they make safety a priority, and they remind that the captain is the ultimate decisionmaker of a plane in the air and that he can decide to make a detour and not to pass over Libya.<\/p>\n
Libya becoming safer to fly over?
However, the reality is that, with relative improved safety, security and stability on the ground in Libya, many airliners are voting with their actions of flying over Libyan airspace. This improvement includes improvements of the infrastructure of Libyan airports.<\/p>\n
As mentioned, besides Air France \u2013 Qatar Airways, Emirates, EgyptAir, Turkish Airlines, Max Air (Nigeria), \u2013 have all started to fly over Libyan air space since January 2025.<\/p>\n
US FAA lifts flight ban over Libyan airspace US Federal Aviation Authority permits flights over Libyan airspace<\/a><\/p>\n Egypt Air emergency landing at Kufra Airport The emergency was due to the sudden illness of one of the flight attendants on board. The flight attendant had suffered a drop in the level of blood sugar and high blood pressure.<\/p>\n All necessary services were provided Ground services available 24\/7 to all flights crossing Libyan airspace Good news for Libya\u2019s efforts to lift EU flight ban Overflights provide valuable revenue The government\u2019s efforts at the time had come with success, with ITA Airways resuming direct flights between Tripoli and Rome in January 2025. They have stopped since. Other flights that had started or resumed over the last few months\/years include, MedSky, Turkish Airlines, Egypt Air, and Royal Jordanian.<\/p>\n .<\/p>\n Kufra Airport continues to provide safe air navigation to foreign carriers over its isolated southeastern skies<\/a><\/p>\n Transport Ministry celebrates safe Egypt Air emergency landing at Kufra airport and successful health relief offered to ill flight attendant<\/a><\/p>\n Direct flights between Benghazi and Rome and Milan to be launched in early June<\/a><\/p>\n ITA first regular scheduled flight arrives in Tripoli<\/a><\/p>\n ITA confirms direct flights between Rome and Tripoli starting on 12 January 2025<\/a><\/p>\n On the day of first direct Tripoli to Rome flight, MoU signed between Libyan Civil Aviation and its Italian counterpart (libyaherald.com)<\/a><\/p>\n Direct flights from Tripoli to Rome to resume on Saturday (libyaherald.com)<\/a><\/p>\n Italian Airlines ITA test flight arrives from Rome at Tripoli\u2019s Mitiga airport with PM Aldabaiba onboard (libyaherald.com)<\/a><\/p>\n First flight between Rome and Tripoli to start tomorrow \u2013 ending a ten-year hiatus (libyaherald.com)<\/a><\/p>\n Libya must fulfil certain preconditions before flights to Italy resume by September \u2013 but flights could resume earlier (libyaherald.com)<\/a><\/p>\n Flights with Qatar to resume in October<\/a><\/p>\n Libya and Qatar sign MoU to prepare studies for Tripoli International Airport investment project vision<\/p>\n Libya and Qatar sign update to 2024 Air Services Agreement<\/a><\/p>\n Qatari UCC and LIA discuss development of Mitiga\u2019s 10 million passenger eastern terminal<\/a><\/p>\n Qatari Civil Aviation audit team inspects Tripoli\u2019s Mitiga airport with view to resume flights<\/a><\/p>\n Qatar Civil Aviation to conduct Libyan airports inspection in October, signs MoU with Libyan counterpart (libyaherald.com)<\/a><\/p>\n Libya signs an initial air services agreement with Qatar \u2013 Qatar Airways to resume flights to Libya (libyaherald.com)<\/a><\/p>\n UAE Civil Aviation Authority visits Tripoli\u2019s Mitiga airport with view to resuming flights<\/a><\/p>\n Libya and UAE sign MoU to lift air transport restrictions between the two countries<\/a><\/p>\n Libya signs accession to the Constitution of the African Civil Aviation Commission of the African Union (AFCAC)<\/a><\/p>\n Over 1,500 carriers fly over Libyan airspace monthly \u2013 latest airport audits were positive<\/a><\/p>\n Arab Aviation Organisation visits Mitiga Airport for audit<\/a><\/p>\n Libya and Spain discuss April\u2019s Spanish Libyan Economic Forum in Spain and resumption of direct flights<\/a><\/p>\n Aldabaiba discusses with German Ambassador Tarraf resumption of Lufthansa flights<\/a><\/p>\n Tripoli Foreign Ministry meets Austrian ambassador \u2013 resumption of direct flights and reopening of embassy are discussed<\/a><\/p>\n Tripoli Foreign Ministry meets UK Deputy Ambassador \u2013 direct flights and visas discussed<\/a><\/p>\n Turkish Airlines to start direct flights from Istanbul to Benghazi on 14 January<\/a><\/p>\n Egypt\u2019s Air Cairo to start flights to Tripoli and Benghazi in mid-December<\/a><\/p>\n After an 11-year hiatus, Sebha airport resumes international flights mid-November \u2013 to Cairo (libyaherald.com<\/a><\/p>\n Aldabaiba follows up on airport construction projects, return of Egypt and Turkish airliners (libyaherald.com)<\/a><\/p>\n After a long hiatus, Egypt Air restarts cargo flights with Misrata Airport (libyaherald.com)<\/a><\/p>\n Egyptian Civil Aviation Authority and Egypt Air inspection team visits Mitiga, Misrata and Sebha airports to assess readiness for flight resumption (libyaherald.com)<\/a><\/p>\n After 8 year hiatus, Egypt Air cargo flight arrives at Tripoli\u2019s Mitiga airport (libyaherald.com)<\/a><\/p>\n Egypt Air to operate special flights between Tripoli\u2019s Mitiga and Sharm El Sheikh as of Tuesday (libyaherald.com)<\/a><\/p>\n After a ten-year hiatus: Royal Jordanian resumes flights to Tripoli<\/a><\/p>\n Medsky flies first Berlin to Misrata flight (libyaherald.com)<\/a><\/p>\n Medsky to start flights from Tripoli to Malta (libyaherald.com)<\/a><\/p>\n
It will be recalled that in March 2019, the US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) has reviewed its flight ban over Libyan airspace by permitting <\/a>US carriers to fly over Libyan airspace above 300 metres.<\/p>\n
It will be recalled, and as\u00a0reported<\/a>\u00a0by\u00a0Libya Herald,\u00a0that the state Libyan Company for Ground Services had reported that an Egypt Air flight was forced to make an emergency landing at Kufra Airport in January 2025.<\/p>\n
The Libyan Company for Ground Services reported that the preset emergency plan was provided and applied, and all necessary services were provided with high quality to the plane and crew.<\/p>\n
The Libyan Ground Services Company assured that the company\u2019s stations at all Libyan airports are ready to operate 24 hours to provide ground services to all flights of airlines crossing Libyan airspace.<\/p>\n
The news of the successful processing of the emergency landing of the Egypt Air flight at Kufra airport was good news for Libya. The Libyan government has been working hard over the last ten years to reinstate foreign carrier flights to Libyan airports \u2013 including flights crossing its airspace.<\/p>\n
Libya had been losing millions of US dollars\u2019 worth of revenue from fees for flights over its airspace. The successful Egypt Air emergency landing at the very remote Kufra airport helped allay fears and encourage more flights into crossing Libya\u2019s vast airspace.<\/p>\n
Egypt\u2019s Nile Air to start Cairo to Sebha service \u2018\u2018this week\u2019\u2019 (libyaherald.com)<\/a><\/p>\n