A new airline, Libyan Wings, will begin operations in the troubled nation from early next year, it was announced on Monday.
In a joint press conference with aircraft manufacturer Airbus, with which it has signed a $800m deal for seven planes, the airline said it was building up its fleet ahead of starting passenger and freight operations.
Spokesman Haret Alfasi said despite the unrest in Libya, business and aviation was “on an extreme high” with passenger numbers increasing from 800,000 to 1.8m in the past two years.
He said a new international airport would be completed by 2018 and will have a capacity of 20m passengers a year.
“Libyan Wings is also keen to play a role in helping to revolutionise and improve airport infrastructure in Libya and we have plans and announcements that we intend to make very soon,” he said.
Initially, Libyan Wings will fly routes within the MENA region, as well as to Turkey.
Alfasi said despite the European Commission blacklist of Libya it won’t affect its plans.
“It does not whatsoever. In fact if anything we would like to be the first airline flying into Europe very soon, he said.
He said it was a privately funded airline by businessman of “high repute” with diverse investments but declined to give further details “I can tell you they are working diligently to make a change in Libya,” he said.
The airline will be full service, offering economy and business classes.
The order from Airbus is for 3x A350-900s and 4x A320neos in a deal valued at $800m.
Airbus COO customers John Leahy said it was exciting to see a new airline starting its business.
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