Libya is working to rebuild its air transport sector in the wake of the ousting of former leader Muammar Gaddafi, as the country's two main airlines assess the damage to their fleets on the ramp at Tripoli airport.
The effort comes after the European Union lifted some of the sanctions it placed on Libya in March.
These included both national carrier Libyan Airlines and the state's other main airline, Afriqiyah Airways. Libyan was banned on the basis that it was wholly owned by the Libyan government, and Afriqiyah because it was effectively "owned and controlled by the regime".
However, while the early September lifting of sanctions included Libyan Airlines, Afriqiyah Airways was not specifically listed as having had its restrictions removed.
The two carriers had been in the process of merging before the Libyan unrest began.
Three Libyan airliners were either destroyed or badly damaged at the capital's international airport during the conflict.
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The Afriqiyah A320, which was barely a year old, showed signs of localised explosion and fuselage burn damage.
Several of Afriqiyah's two remaining A330-200s and nine A320-family aircraft were also reported to have been hit by small-arms fire.
Meanwhile, after air services were suspended to the country earlier this year, international airlines are now returning to Libya including Royal Jordanian, Turkish Airlines and Malev.
Source: Airline Business
