Emirates resumed passenger flights to Tripoli, Libya, this week for the first time since suspending services more than two years ago, the airline said on Tuesday.
An Emirates spokesperson said the re-launch passenger flight departed on Sunday September 1. Flights had been suspended since February 2011, the spokesperson added.
“Solid early bookings have demonstrated the demand, opening up new markets for passengers to and from Libya,” Adil Al Ghaith, Emirates’ Vice President Commercial Operations Northern and Western Africa, said in a statement.
Emirates will fly to Tripoli three times a week from Dubai with a layover in Malta.
The route will be serviced by a Boeing 777-200ER, which provides First, Business, and Economy class travel, the airline stated.
EK745 leaves Dubai every Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday at 09:30 arrives in Tripoli via Malta at 15:55.
The airline said it re-established a key route offering Libyan travellers access to the Emirates network.
“Libya is showing healthy economic growth and the re-launch of our flights to Tripoli will help to support business, international trade and from Tripoli to the rest of world,” Al Ghaith stated.
In June 2012, Emirates re-opened its Tripoli town office allowing customers to book travel on Emirates’ services outside of Libya.
In May 2012, Emirates SkyCargo launched freighter service to Tripoli, carrying a variety of goods such as electronics from the Far East to drilling equipment from the US, the airline stated.
The resumption of passenger flights creates a total combined capacity of over 100 tonnes of cargo alongside Emirates SkyCargo.
