Turkish Airlines returns to Libya after near decade-long break

Turkiye’s flagship carrier, Turkish Airlines, has resumed flights to Libya’s capital, almost 10 years after they were suspended over security concerns in the conflict-torn country.

The airline’s chief executive, Bilal Eksi, attended a ceremony at Mitiga International Airport to mark its first flight to Libya since 2015.

“We are delighted to start flights again to Libya, with which we have historical ties,” Eksi said.

“We will continue to bring cultures together in Africa, as in many continents,” he added.

A company spokesman said on Friday that Turkish Airlines will operate flights to Tripoli three times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays.

Turkish Airlines flies to 130 countries and 346 destinations.

Libya is still struggling to recover from years of war that followed the overthrow and death of longtime dictator Muammar Qaddafi in 2011.

The country’s rule is split between rival administrations — Tripoli in the west and Benghazi in the east.

Turkiye has backed the Tripoli regime, but Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said in February that Ankara would soon reopen its consulate in Benghazi.

“We want Libya to resolve its problems through dialogue. We also do not want the current division between the East and West to become permanent,” he said then.