- Title: LIBYA-MISRATA AIRPORT/TURKISH AIRLINES Turkish airlines resume flights to Libya
- Date: 28th October 2014
- Summary: MISRATA, LIBYA (OCTOBER 26, 2014) (REUTERS) CARS DRIVING INTO MISRATA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ENTRANCE SIGN READING (Arabic and English): MISRATA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TURKISH AIRLINES PLANE TAXIING AT MISRATA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT AIRPORT WORKER ON TARMAC MARSHALING PLANE TURKISH AIRLINES PLANE TAXIING TURKISH AIRLINES PLANE PARKED WITH STEPS BEING MOVED INTO POSITION 'TURKISH AIRLINES' WRITTEN ON SIDE OF PLANE VARIOUS OF PASSENGERS DISEMBARKING AND WALKING DOWN STEPS PASSENGERS IN AIRPORT DEPARTURES HALL SIGN IN DEPARTURES HALL IN ENGLISH AND ARABIC REGARDING TURKISH AIRLINES FLIGHT 646 TO ISTANBUL (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) HEAD OF MEDIA AT MISRATA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, SOLIMAN ALSHAHYMY, SAYING: "Of course, today on the 26th of October the first foreign international flight to start it's trips to Misrata international airport is Turkish Airlines, after a stoppage of over three months - since 12th of July." PASSENGERS QUEUING WITH LUGGAGE AND PASSPORTS PASSENGER CHECKING IN PASSENGERS QUEUING IN DEPARTURES HALL SIGN READING (Arabic and English): TICKET SALES AND RESERVATIONS VARIOUS OF DEPARTURES HALL AT MISRATA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
- Embargoed: 12th November 2014 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Libya
- Country: Libya
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA7V4HYUQBKA3M2NS3IVRMBIFR1
- Story Text: Turkish Airlines resumed flights to the eastern Libyan city of Misrata on Sunday (October 26), the first foreign carrier to fly there for over three months.
"Today on the 26th of October the first foreign international flight to start it's trips to Misrata international airport is Turkish Airlines, after a stoppage of over three months - since 12th of July," said Misrata International Airport's head of media Soliman Alshahymy
According to airport officials 171 passengers of various nationalities arrived at Misrata International airport on Sunday from Istanbul.
Turkey's special envoy to Libya said last week that Turkey's national carrier (THY), which is majority owned by the state, would initially operate a daily flight to Misrata, 200km to the east of Tripoli from Istanbul. The airline is also considering the security and logistical possibilities for routes to the eastern cities Tobruk and Bayda.
Turkey is one of Libya's biggest business partners and has maintained strong diplomatic ties with successive governments since Gaddafi's fall.
Three years after the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi, Libya is in chaos, with Islamists and other armed groups feuding for territory and power and the government unable to impose control.
Tripoli's main airport, which was badly damaged as fighters battled for its control, is not operational. More than 20 civilian aircraft were damaged or destroyed at the airport. Libyan airlines use a military base to fly to Tripoli.
The capital was seized in August by an armed group from Misrata, forcing the government to flee to Bayda and the elected parliament to move to Tobruk near the Egyptian border.
Tripoli's new rulers proclaimed their own government and formed a parliament, neither of which have been internationally recognised.
Last month, the United Nations started dialogue in an effort to find a solution to the oil-rich desert nation's mounting political woes.
Western powers and Libya's neighbours worry the country is drifting towards becoming a failed state, and that unrest could spark a full-blown civil war.
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