Μake us preferred on Google Libya has announced the end of international aviation restrictions imposed during its civil war, marking a shift for the country’s aviation sector after more than a decade of limitations.
The Tripoli-based Ministry of Transport said Monday that restrictions introduced by the United Nations’ International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in 2015 had been lifted. The decision was formally issued on October 23 and announced by ICAO Secretary General Juan Carlos Salazar at the opening of a meeting of Middle Eastern civil aviation officials in Doha.
The ministry attributed the decision to improvements in Libya’s aviation sector, citing recent progress and increased confidence in its capabilities.
It also reported a sharp rise in requests from international airlines seeking permission to cross Libyan airspace, describing the level of interest as unprecedented.
Transit traffic expected to surge
According to the ministry, the number of registered permits for the November 2026 to March 2027 winter season has reached 61,968 flights per month, compared with an average of 2,000 monthly transit flights during the 2025-2026 season.
As reported in Reuters, the ministry said the increase could generate substantial revenue from the use of Libyan airspace.
The ICAO decision will be circulated to all 193 member states for implementation, the ministry added.
Libya’s aviation sector bears scars of conflict
Libya has struggled with instability since the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that toppled longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi. A civil war broke out in 2014 between armed groups competing for power, leaving the country divided between rival administrations in the east and west.
The fighting also inflicted serious damage on the country’s aviation infrastructure. In 2014, as many as 20 aircraft, including Airbus models, were damaged at Tripoli International Airport.
International air links remain limited. Only a small number of airlines currently operate flights to and from Libya, with services long concentrated on destinations including Tunisia, Jordan, Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Sudan.
