Morocco and Libya Move Towards Resumption of Flights

Fez – On February 14, a Royal Air Maroc (RAM) delegation visited Mitiga international airport, near Tripoli, Libya, to assess security conditions and operational measures.

This visit was an important one, signaling a resumption of regular flights between Morocco and Libya. Due to security reasons, flights between the two countries have been suspended almost eight years ago to the day, on February 16, 2015.

The Arab Spring and Gaddafi’s overthrow has made the security situation in Libya profoundly complicated due to competing governmental institutions, as well as geopolitical rivalries. For the last decade, Libya has been home to political assassinations, criminal activity, and clashes between opposing militia groups.

The RAM delegation’s mission was to ensure that Mitiga international airport complies with the recommendations of the International Civil Aviation Organization (OACI), according to the Libyan media outlet Libya Herald, citing the Libyan Airports Authority (LAA).

The Moroccan delegation met the director of Mitiga airport, along with the head of the airport security department, the directors of the offices and departments concerned, as well as certain airport security officials, said the same source.

This visit by RAM officials to Libya took place a week after the meeting between the Minister of Transport and Logistics, Mohammed Abdeljalil, and his Libyan counterpart, Salem Al Shahoubi, on February 6 in Rabat.

“The Libyan official expressed his country’s desire to reopen air connectivity between the two countries, with a view to encouraging and strengthening economic exchanges between Morocco and Libya and contributing to the development of bilateral cooperation between the two countries in different areas,” stated the Ministry of Transport and Logistics in a press release.

On May 29 of last year, Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Bourita, announced the reopening of the Moroccan consulates in Tripoli and Benghazi, during an oral interrogation session within the Moroccan House of Representatives.

The resumption of air connectivity between Morocco and Libya will be welcomed by the Moroccan community in Libya, whose population amounts to 100,000, according to the Council of the Moroccan Community Abroad (CCME).

RAM has been named “2023 Africa’s Best Airline” in the latest edition of Global Traveler magazine’s GT Tested Reader Survey.

The Moroccan airline aspires to reiterate its confidence in Africa’s potential as well as its commitment to Morocco as a strategic ally for national sectoral plans.