2 days ago
First scheduled flight lands at Kufra airport – good news for Libya's wider aviation sector
The first scheduled flight landed at Kufra International Airport yesterday. The commercial flight arrived from Benghazi's Benina airport and was operated by Berniq Airways. Berniq announced that they will be operating two flights per week (Sunday and Thursday).
The flight will provide a much needed convenient and speedy mode of transport to the city located in the deep southeastern corner of Libya in the Egyptian-Sudanese, Chadian triangle. Kufra airport is about 1,724 kms by road from the capital Tripoli and 1,025 kms from the regional eastern capital Benghazi.
Ramifications of the operation of Kufra airport
On a broader perspective, there are positive ramifications of the operation of Kufra airport for Libya's aviation sector and the use of its airspace by international carriers. The scheduled use of the airport reinforces that it is able to receive and set off flights to international aviation standards. This makes it more likely for international carriers to fly over Libyan airspace within Kufra airports footprint.
Libya's remote Kufra Airport is witnessing numerous overflights by foreign carriers (Photo: Kufra Airport).
Egypt Air emergency landing at Kufra Airport
It will be recalled, and as reported by Libya Herald, that the state Libyan Company for Ground Services had reported that an Egypt Air flight was forced to make an emergency landing at Kufra Airport in January this year.
The emergency was due to the sudden illness of one of the flight attendants on board. The flight attendant had suffered a drop in the level of blood sugar and high blood pressure.
All necessary services were provided
The Libyan Company for Ground Services reported that the preset emergency plan was provided and applied, and all necessary services were provided with high quality to the plane and crew.
Ground services available 24/7 to all flights crossing Libyan airspace
The Libyan Ground Services Company assured that the company's stations at all Libyan airports are ready to operate 24 hours to provide ground services to all flights of airlines crossing Libyan airspace.
Good news for Libya's efforts to lift EU flight ban
The news of the successful processing of the emergency landing of the Egypt Air flight at Kufra airport is good news for Libya. The Libyan government has been working hard over the last ten years to reinstate foreign carrier flights to Libyan airports – including flights crossing its airspace.
Overflights provide valuable revenue
Libya had been losing millions of US dollars' worth of revenue from fees for flights over its airspace. The successful Egypt Air emergency landing at the very remote Kufra airport should help allay fears and encourage more flights into crossing Libya's vast airspace.
The government's efforts have come with success, with ITA Airways resuming direct flights between Tripoli and Rome in January this year. Other flights that have started or resumed over the last few months/years include, MedSky, Turkish Airlines, Egypt Air, and Royal Jordanian.
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Kufra Airport continues to provide safe air navigation to foreign carriers over its isolated southeastern skies
Transport Ministry celebrates safe Egypt Air emergency landing at Kufra airport and successful health relief offered to ill flight attendant
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