Libya France Direct Flights Return After More Than a Decade
LIBYA · TRAVEL
Key Facts
- —What happened MedSky flew Tripoli to Paris, then on to Benghazi, on 17 September 2026.
- —How long the gap was Most reports say more than 15 years; one French outlet says more than 13 years.
- —How often MedSky announced one weekly flight to Paris from Tripoli and one from Benghazi.
- —Who was there Eastern-based Foreign Minister Abdulhadi Al-Huwaij attended the ceremony in Benghazi, Italpress reported.
- —The catch The long-term timetable and fares have not been published, so the route is not yet proven.
- —What comes next MedSky’s chief executive has spoken of more European cities, including London.
A Libyan airline has reconnected Tripoli and Benghazi with Paris. It is a real step, but a small one, and many details are still open.
Libya France direct flights restarted on Thursday 17 September 2026, when the Libyan airline MedSky flew from Tripoli to Paris. The same aircraft then continued to Benghazi, China’s Xinhua news agency reported.
How the first flight worked
The inaugural flight left Mitiga International Airport in Tripoli on Thursday morning. It reached Paris-Charles de Gaulle around midday, Xinhua reported.
It then flew on to Benina International Airport in Benghazi in the early afternoon. So one aircraft linked both of Libya’s main cities with Paris in a single day.
The Moroccan news site Le Brief reported that about 160 passengers were on board. MedSky has not published its own passenger figure.
The French Embassy in Libya welcomed the launch, according to Xinhua. It called the route an important step for ties between the two countries and for travellers.
The weekly schedule so far
MedSky set out its plan through the Libyan News Agency (LANA) on Sunday 6 September 2026. Flights from Tripoli to Paris run every Thursday and return every Saturday.
Flights from Benghazi to Paris leave every Saturday and return every Thursday. The Libya Observer, citing a company source, described this as one weekly flight from each airport.
The two days fit together neatly. A Thursday loop can run Tripoli–Paris–Benghazi, and a Saturday loop can run the other way.
Le Brief described the service as two round trips a week, which matches this pattern. The Libya Review said on 17 September that the long-term schedule had not yet been announced.
How long Libya France direct flights were missing
Xinhua, LANA and the Libya Herald all say Libya France direct flights had been absent for more than 15 years. That would place the break in 2011 or earlier.
Le Brief gives a different picture. It says the link had been cut for more than 13 years and ties the stop to 2014.
These accounts do not fully match, and no official record settling the date has been published. What is clear is that the gap lasted well over a decade.
Who MedSky is
MedSky Airways describes itself as a Libyan joint-stock company registered in Tripoli. Its website says one of its Airbus A320 jets is registered in Malta to operate in the European Union.
This matters because the European Union (EU) bans all airlines certified by Libyan authorities. That rule was still in place in the EU’s June 2026 air safety list update, Euronews reported.
In July 2025 the aviation data firm ch-aviation reported that MedSky moved an A320 onto the Maltese register. It said Malta MedAir would operate that aircraft on MedSky’s behalf.
In August 2026 the Libya Herald reported that chief executive Siraj Al-Fitouri called Paris MedSky’s seventh European destination. The others it listed were Athens, Düsseldorf, Madrid, Malta, Milan and Rome.
Why this matters for expats and investors
Until now, people travelling between Libya and France usually had to change planes in a third country. A direct flight can save hours, and sometimes a night in a hotel.
MedSky said the route should save time and money for business people, patients, students and diplomats. That covers many of the people who travel most between the two countries.
For companies with staff or projects in Libya, a direct Paris link makes short visits easier to plan. Engineers, auditors and managers can fly in and out on a weekly rhythm.
For Libyans living in France, family visits become simpler. Benghazi also gains a European link, after Turkish Airlines returned to the city in January 2025, the Libya Review noted.
Le Brief also reported that France is preparing to reopen its consulate in Benghazi, closed for twelve years. A working consulate and a direct flight together would make travel paperwork easier to handle.
What is not known
MedSky has not published fares or a timetable beyond the weekly pattern. It is not known how full later flights will be, or whether demand will support more frequencies.
No French or EU aviation document about the route has been published. The exact start date of the old suspension is also not settled.
It is not confirmed which aircraft or operator flies each Paris service. The consulate reopening has not been given a date.
It is also unclear whether other Libyan airlines will follow. Any new route to the EU would need the same kind of non-Libyan certification.
What to watch next
Watch for a published timetable and fares, which will show whether the route is built to last. The first months of bookings, especially outside holiday periods, will matter most.
Al-Fitouri has also hinted at more European routes, including London, the Libya Herald reported. The hope now is that the Paris route settles into an ordinary, reliable weekly service.
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
When did direct flights between Libya and France restart?
On Thursday 17 September 2026. MedSky flew from Tripoli to Paris, then continued to Benghazi.
How often does the service run?
MedSky announced one weekly flight to Paris from Tripoli, on Thursdays, and one from Benghazi, on Saturdays. Fares and a long-term timetable have not been published.
Why can a Libyan airline fly to Paris if the EU bans Libyan carriers?
The EU ban covers airlines certified in Libya. MedSky flies to Europe with an aircraft registered in Malta, according to the airline and ch-aviation.
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Sources: MedSky Airways via the Libyan News Agency (LANA), 6 September 2026; Xinhua; Italpress; Le Brief; Libya Herald; Libya Review; Libya Observer; ch-aviation; Euronews.
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