Airlines in Libya | Largest Airlines of Libya

Top Airlines in Libya

Marcopolis.net presents top airlines in Libya.

The civil war in 2011 has crippled the transportation sector and airlines in Libya. Libya is home to 2 national airlines; the larger and older Libyan Airlines and newer Afriqiyah Airways, which was originally established to bridge Africa with Europe.

Situated in the middle of North Africa, Libya has a great geographical position to become the transhipment hub between Europe and Africa.

Airlines in Libya are also negatively impacted by the EU ban and have to wet-lease aircraft from other airways in order to fly into the EU airspace. The LCAA has been trying to resolve the issue. The EU ban should be reversed in 2013 starting with Libyan Airlines and later with Afriqiyah Airways.

Libya is also in process of upgrading airports. However, due to the recent events, construction works on new airports have been postponed.

Both airlines in Libya are trying to expand rapidly by purchasing new aircrafts, adding routes and increasing passenger traffic. If the stability continues and economic growth resumes airlines in Libya are well positioned to capitalize on the increased inbound and outbound traffic to Libya

Libyan Airlines is hoping to bag 50 percent of Libya’s international flights in 2014 by carrying a planned 1.5 million passengers.

In 2012, the state airline flew upwards of 1,225,000 passengers, amounting to 45 percent of the country’s international air travellers and 76 percent of all domestic passengers.

Libyan Herald has reported that “Fleet expansion with the delivery of five new aircraft during 2013 means that Libyan Airlines is expecting to move some 1,350,000 passengers this year. This should raise their market share to almost 50 percent of international passengers and 80 percent of local passengers.”

Top Airlines in Libya | Largest Airlines in Libya

Libyan African Holding Company (LAHC)
Libyan African Holding Company (LAHC) is a national holding company that was established to integrate the state holdings of several aviation companies and airlines in Libya. The holding owns controlling stakes in Libyan Airlines, Afriqiyah Airways. The holding company is controlled by Libyan African Portfolio (LAP).

On 31 July 2007, Libyan Airlines became a subsidiary of the state owned Libyan Afriqiyah Aviation Holding Company (LAAHC), together with Afriqiyah Airways. LAAHC is owned by four pre-civil war government bodies: The Libyan National Social Fund (30%), the Libyan National Investment Company (30%), the Libya-Africa Investment Fund (25%), and the Libyan Foreign Investment Company (15%). Click here for the list of investment companies in Libya.

 Libyan Airlines
Libyan Airlines is the largest of the two airlines in Libya. The new branding, which has replaced the long established name “Libyan Arab Airlines” as part of a re-organisation, has placed the airline under the same control as its sister state owned airline, Afriqiyah. Libyan Airlines is the national flag carrier of Libya based in the capital of Tripoli and is part of an ambitious planned expansion of Libyan aviation.

The fleet of Libyan Airlines is being modernised and expanded, as is the number of routes the airline operates. With a future mix of Airbus and Bombadier CRJ aircraft, Libyan Airlines is moving into a new exciting phase in its history. 

Libyan Airlines has also launched new destinations as part of expansion plans including services from Tripoli to Milan, Ankara, Athens and Madrid in 2009. These destinations are in addition to flights to: Algeria, Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Syria, United Arab Emirates, Germany, Italy, Malta, Turkey, Ukraine and the United Kingdom.

 Afriqiyah Airways
Afriqiyah Airways is the second largest of the two airlines in Libya, which was founded on April 2001. It started its operations on 1st December 2001 with leased aircrafts. During the Paris Air Show in 2006 Afriqiyah Airways Signed a Contract with Air Bus Industries for the purchase of a total of 21 aircrafts the following were delivered consequently: 6 A320-214, 3 A319-111 and 3 A330-202.

In May 2012 Afriqiyah Airways Signed an Agreement with Airbus Industries to change the Original Contract and supply the Airline with 3 A330-300 aircrafts instead of the 3 A320-214 already ordered.
The remaining Purchase Agreement to be yet confirmed by the Airline Management of Afriqiyah Airways.
Afriqiyah Airways is fully owned by Libyan Government Entities on 29th of July 2007 the Libyan African Aviation Holding Company was created which became the sole owner of Afriqiyah Airways.

 Shorooq & Ground Handling Services
Shorooq Handling & Ground Services (SHGS) is the first ground handling Company in the Libya. It gained the trust from its customers and clients through the services at all Libyan Airports.

The company serves more than 50 clients, including commercial, charter, regular airlines in Libya, private, ambulance, military & cargo flights efficiently with the help of a highly trained staff.  

The Regulator of Airlines and Aviation Affairs in Libya

 Libyan Civil Aviation Authority
The body responsible for organization of the work of air transportation, inspection of national airlines and foreign airlines in Libya, issuing permits landing and transit of military aircraft, representation of Libya in international organizations, the study of international treaties, test pilots, registration of civil aircraft, aircraft accident investigation, issuing licenses to conduct flight instruction, coordination of services search and rescue, the granting of licenses for the establishment of airports and proposal to set fees for services provided to others. LCAA was established in 1955 under the name Aviation Authority of Libya, which represents the legitimate authority in all forums and in front of bodies and local and international organizations in the field of civil aviation.