Libya says international aviation restrictions lifted after 11 years

Libya's Ministry of Transport said on Monday that the UN's International Civil Aviation Organisation removed airspace restrictions it issued in 2015 during the country's civil war.

The ministry said ICAO Secretary General Juan Carlos Salazar announced the decision, formally issued on October 23, at the opening of a meeting of civil aviation officials from the Middle East in Doha.

"This measure comes as ​a result of the notable progress made and the confidence placed ⁠in the capabilities of the Libyan civil aviation sector in recent times," ​the Tripoli-based Ministry of Transport said in a statement on its verified Facebook ​page.

The ministry, in a separate statement, said the North African country has received requests for permits to transit Libyan airspace that it characterised as "unprecedented demand from international airlines."

"The total number ​of permits registered for 2026-2027 winter season has surged to 61,968 flights ​per month, effective from this November," the ministry said, calling it a significant jump from ‌an ⁠average of 2,000 transit flights per month during the 2025-2026 season.

"Such an increase will generate substantial financial revenues using Libyan airspace," it added.

Libya slid into chaos after the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in a NATO-backed uprising in 2011. Three years later, a civil war broke out between armed factions vying for power and divided the country between eastern and western administrations.

The war caused damage to ​up to 20 aircraft, including Airbus (AIR.PA),models, at Tripoli International ​Airport ⁠in 2014.

Few airlines currently operate flights in and out of Libya, and they have long been limited to destinations such as Tunisia, Jordan, Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia ​, and Sudan.

The ministry added that ICAO would circulate the decision to all 193 member states for implementation.