About Afriqiyah Airways

Afriqiyah Airways is based in Tripoli, Libya and is 100% controlled by the Libyan government. They fly throughout Africa and the Middle East, and are expanding into European destinations, with plans to establish routes in India, Lebanon and Turkey.

History

Founded in April 2001, Afriqiyah Airways launched its first flight in December of that year. Named for the Arabic word for Africa, Afriqiyah initially flew Boeing 737-400 jets, but in 2003 the line was changed exclusively to Airbus models. The Afriqiyah Airways logo is a stylistic 9.9.99 on the tail fin, which commemorates the date of the formation of the African Union and is a move designed to establish Afriqiyah as the hub of African and Middle Eastern flights.

Size

Beginning with an introductory fleet of nine small jets, Afriqiyah has expanded its size and number of jets as well as its destinations. The company has added nine Airbus jets to its original fleet of nine Boeings, with ten more Airbuses on order and options on another eight. Afriqiyah flew over 650,000 passengers in 2008 and projects to fly over a million passengers in 2009.

Destinations

While serving domestic flights between Tripoli and Benghazi, Afriqiyah Airlines also flies daily to 15 destinations in Africa as well as flights to Brussels, Paris, London, Rome, Amsterdam, Dusseldorf and Geneva. Future planned destinations include Beirut, Istanbul, Delhi and several more African ports in the Republic of Congo and Kenya.

Regulations

Flying on Afriqiyah Airlines exposes the passenger to the unique regulations of the Libyan government, and one should become familiar with the exact requirements before ticket purchase. Passengers are forbidden to carry any type of sharp instrument (including scissors), aerosols, magnets, tools and alcohol. Because the airline is government owned, passengers are subject to police formalities as well as customs and health regulations.

Potential

Because of its government ownership and aggressive expansion plans, Afriqiyah Airlines has a unique opportunity for worldwide growth. Considering political advancements made by the Libyan government as well as growth of stability in the Middle East, Afriqiyah stands a good chance of reaching its goal of becoming the premier airline of Africa and the Middle East.

Resources

• Afriqiyah Airlines Website