Turkish Airlines Resumes Flights to Tripoli, Libya after a Decade: Three Weekly Flights and Cultural Exchange Commitment
Turkish Airlines, the national carrier of Turkey, has restarted flights to Libya's capital, Tripoli, after a hiatus of nearly 10 years due to security concerns.
The first flight landed at Mitiga International Airport on an unspecified date, and the airline's CEO, Bilal Eksi, attended a ceremony to mark the occasion.
Eksi expressed delight at resuming flights to Libya, which Turkey has historical ties with, and stated the airline's commitment to promoting cultural exchange in Africa and other continents.
Turkish Airlines will operate three weekly flights to Tripoli on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays.
Turkish Airlines serves 130 countries and 346 destinations.
Libya, which is recovering from the aftermath of the 2011 overthrow and death of Muammar Qaddafi, is currently governed by rival administrations in Tripoli (west) and Benghazi (east).
Turkey, which supports the Tripoli regime, announced in February 2023 that it would soon reopen its consulate in Benghazi.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan expressed a desire for Libya to resolve its issues through dialogue and prevent the current east-west division from becoming permanent.