1st Libyan flight lands at Egypt’s Cairo airport in 7 years

By Diana Shalhub

ISTANBUL (AA) – The first Libyan flight from Tripoli’s Mitiga International Airport landed at Cairo International Airport on Saturday following a hiatus of seven years, according to Egyptian media.

The state-owned Al-Ahram newspaper said 255 passengers were aboard the Libyan Airlines flight.

A protocol celebration was organized by the Cairo International Airport to welcome the A330 model Libyan airliner, the newspaper said.

The Libyan flight is scheduled to fly back to Tripoli later on Saturday with 250 passengers on board.

Direct flights between Cairo International Airport and Libyan airports resumed on September 30 after a seven-year suspension.

Libya has been torn by civil war since the ouster of late ruler Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

On March 16, a new transitional unity government headed by Abdul Hamid Dbeibah was approved to lead the country to elections this December.

* Writing by Ibrahim Mukhtar