Air Malta inaugurates services to Libya

Air Malta's flight KM696 touched down at Tripoli International Airport at 11:55am with the return flight KM 697 landing back in Malta at 2:30pm. This marked the first international airlines to return to Libya after the popular uprising and the United Nations Security Council resolution that established a no-fly zone over Libya in March this year has been lifted.

On board the first flight was a high level Air Malta delegation which included the airline's Chairman, Louis Farrugia and Chief Executive Officer Peter Davies. While in Tripoli, they held discussions with top Libyan Civil Aviation authorities and addressed a press conference together with Ezzaddin Elnaas, Director of Tripoli International Airport and Ibrahim Wali, Air Transport Director of the Libyan Civil Aviation Authority. 

 "The resumption of air services between Tripoli and Malta is an important step both in restoring our commercial links and in the strengthening of the good relations between our two countries,"

Farrugia said. "Today we are returning to Libya for the third time. Tripoli was one of the seven destinations Air Malta flew to when it started air services on the 1st April 1974."

Farrugia reminded how on April 6, 1999, Air Malta was the first international airline to fly to Libya after seven years following the suspension of the United Nations sanctions.

"Today we are reconfirming this commitment and are one of the first international airlines to restart services between both countries. Such air services provide a vital link for both Libyan and Maltese wishing to travel for business, leisure or to visit friends or family."

Peter Davies said Air Malta has been looking forward to the resumption of services to the new Libya for months.

The resumption of the three times weekly service between Malta and Tripoli was positively received by both communities and reservations have been very positive.

"We hope that following increased demand we will announce more frequencies on Tripoli and also start services to Benghazi. It is very encouraging to note that throughout the years we have registered strong passenger traffic," Davies said.

Since 1974, 1.4 million passengers travelled on Air Malta to/from Libya: "We anticipate to welcome onboard our 1.5millionth passenger on this route in the coming months. We are also gearing up to offer good opportunities for companies wishing to transport cargo to/from Libya and distribute it through our European network."