Flights have resumed between the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi and the western coastal city of Misrata after a seven-year halt owing to instability in the country.
This reflects the relative calm that has prevailed in the North African country since a ceasefire agreement was reached in October 2020 between warring parties.
Afriqiyah Airways confirmed that one of its flights had departed Benghazi and landed in Misrata on Tuesday morning. It said it plans on operating four flights a week “to bring the people of the nation back together.”
The passengers were very warmly welcomed in Misrata soon after disembarking.
Flights were suspended between the major cities after clashes intensified between liberal and extremist factions in 2014. The east-based Libyan National Army’s (LNA) 14-month offensive against Tripoli in 2019 also led to the disruption of flights between eastern and western Libya.
Among the conditions of the ceasefire agreement is the demand for the reopening of main roads and internal flight routes.