► LIBYA: Air Libya, Chapman Freeborn sign deal for placement, operation of an An-26F in Libya.

Chapman Freeborn Airchartering has announced the formation of an exclusive partnership with Air Libya (7Q) to place and operationally manage an Antonov An-26 transport in Libya. The freighter will be based out of Tripoli’s Mitiga International Airport (MJI) on a long-term lease agreement with immediate effect.

■ LIBYA: LYCAA selects Comsoft for aeronautical infrastructure & communications upgrade.

The Libyan Civil Aviation Authority (مصلحة الطيران المدني‎ - LYCAA) has awarded a contract to upgrade all of Libya's existing Aeronautical Fixed Telecommunication Network (AFTN) and Automatic Identification System (AIS) infrastructure to Germany's Comsoft. The initiative is being undertaken as part of the Libyan government's ongoing infrastructural refurbishment plan and will ultimately result in safer skies over the country.

■ LIBYA: Tripoli International Airport to close for 3 months from October over runway repairs?

Libya's Ministry of Transport has reportedly announced the temporary closure of Tripoli International Airport with effect from October until December owing to critical runway repair and upgrade work. This has yet to be confirmed by either the Libyan Airports Authority or any Libyan carriers.

■ LIBYA: Ministry of Transport to replace Tripoli's radar system; to increase civilian/military airspace monitoring.

Libya's Ministry of Transport is set to beef up the country's ability to monitor both civilian and military air traffic through the commissioning of new radar infrastructure and control facilities. The facilities will be used in monitoring the trafficking of both people and drugs in Libya as well as the illegal export of arms to neighbouring countries.

► LIBYA: See Pics of Afriqiyah's first A320 painted in the new livery!

In a ceremony held in Sebha, Libyan carrier Afriqiyah (8U) has taken delivery of its sixth and first A320 (MSN 5448 | 5N-ONO) painted in the airlines new "dove" livery.

► LIBYA: Tunisair to launch Tunis - Sebha flights from February.

Tunisair (TU) has announced that it will start flights between Tunis and Sebha, Libya effective 1 February. The addition of Sebha will bring the number of Tunisair destinations served in Libya to four after Tripoli and Benghazi, and Misrata.

► LIBYA: Royal Jordanian boosts Tripoli, Misrata as Libyan Airlines looks to start Sebha - Casablanca, Benghazi - Dubai.

Royal Jordanian (RJ) will, starting February 2013, increase its operations to Libya, where its overall operation from Amman to Misurata will increase from 1x to 2x weekly from  6 February 2013, while Amman – Tripoli increases from daily to 10x weekly from  9 February 2013. Meanwhile, Libyan Airlines (LN) is to start additional ops to Morocco and Dubai in the coming weeks.

► CHAD: Tunisair looking to start Ndjamena via Douala amongst other routes?

Tunisair (TU), the Tunisian national carrier, are said to be in the process of finalizing a possible Tunis - Ndjamena (Chad) via Douala (Cameroon) route according to Chadian newspaper reports.

► LIBYA: Air Libya gets two B737-400s; an ARJ-100 set to arrive shortly.

Air Libya (7Q), the private Libyan carrier formerly known as Tibesti Air Libya, has announced the lease of 2 Boeing B737-400 for use on its daily Benghazi - Alexandria, Egypt flights.

►► LIBYA: Afriqiyah announces Paris, Casablanca, Rome, Khartoum, Dubai from December.

Libyan carrier, Afriqiyah (8U), has announced plans to launch various new routes ex-Tripoli and ex-Benghazi effective 1 December.

► LIBYA: Turkish Airlines to start Sebha effective September 2012.

Starting 2 September 2012, Turkish Airlines (TK) continues its aggressive push into Africa, this time with the announcement of a new 3x weekly flight between Istanbul and Sebha, Libya to be serviced with an Airbus A320. At present Turkish Airlines operates a fairly extensive Libyan network with flights offered to Tripoli, Benghazi and Misurata.

Turkish Airlines' Libya Network

Turkish Airlines: Istanbul, Turkey - Sebha, Libya

-Effective 2 September 2012

• TK641 IST0945 – 1215SEB 320 247
• TK642 SEB1310 – 1730IST 320 247

Source [AirlineRoute]

As previously reported by The African Aviation Tribune, Turkish Airlines will shortly commence flights to Kinshasa, DRC and to Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt.