- ICAO removed airspace restrictions on Libya on 23 October 2026.
- The restrictions had been in place since 2015.
- Winter permits reached nearly 62,000 flights per month.
- Libya plans to promote air corridors for overflight revenue.
- The country aims to link Europe and Africa.
Libya’s Ministry of Transport has confirmed that airspace restrictions imposed by the International Civil Aviation Organization in 2015 have been removed. The decision follows progress in the country’s civil aviation sector. Demand for transit flights has surged with permits for the 2026 to 2027 winter season reaching nearly 62,000 flights per month. Few airlines currently operate regular services into Libya.
The formal decision issued on 23 October 2026 marks the end of an 11-year block that began when ICAO flagged Libyan airspace following civil war and security crises in 2013 and 2015. The announcement was delivered by ICAO Secretary General Juan Carlos Salazar during a summit of Middle Eastern civil aviation directors in Doha.
The Ministry of Transport noted that the removal of warnings reflects years of state progress in upgrading airport infrastructure, modernising navigation setups and strengthening safety controls. Transport Minister Mohammed Al-Shahoubi noted Libya will promote its air corridors to international carriers. The country aims to boost air traffic overflight revenues and reposition its airspace as a corridor linking Europe and Africa.
