Libya moves forward with plans to establish a new national airline
December 28, 2025
Libyan United Airlines is expected to become the country’s new national carrier as part of a government-led strategy to merge its current two publicly owned companies.
The new airline will be headed up by Ziad Farhoud, he confirmed in a post on social media. With experience in the Libyan market leading several local airlines, the hope is to establish the new company as a leading carrier, serving customers with Libyan hospitality.
The airline is reportedly seeking a fleet of narrowbody Airbus A320 jets to begin flying.
Linking Tripoli to its neighbours
It hopes to link Libya’s capital, Tripoli, with destinations in North Africa, the Middle East “and beyond.” The launch is currently slated for the first quarter of 2026.
It is likely that the carrier is also interested in flying to the European Union, though this is hindered by the country-wide ban on all Libyan airlines since 2014 over safety concerns.
“Our vision is to establish Libyan United Airlines (LUA) as Libya’s premier airline, offering not just flights, but a curated travel experience designed with the passenger in mind,” Farhoud said.
He further highlighted the airline’s plan for the passenger experience.
“Central to our mission is curating the passenger experience – crafting every journey to be seamless, comfortable, and unforgettable. From booking to arrival, every touchpoint will deliver reliability, convenience, and a distinctly Libyan sense of welcome.”
Merging the country’s government-owned aviation entities
Libyan United Airlines is part of the country’s plan to consolidate companies operating in its aviation industry under a single holding organisation.
According to the Libya Herald the Libyan Aviation Holding Company aims to:
- Support the national economy
- Diversify revenue sources
- Provide high-quality services
- Leverage the country’s geographical location
Indeed, Libyan Airlines and Afriqiyah Airways are the country’s current two government-run carriers.
According to planespotters.net, both carriers have just one Airbus A320 in service each.
Libya’s current industry and possible destinations
According to information from aviation analytics firm Cirium, Libya’s current aviation industry is dominated by privately-owned entities. This includes Berniq Airways and Buraq Air with up to ten daily flights each in December 2025 and Libyan Wings with up to five.
Berniq Airways placed a groundbreaking order for six Airbus A320neos at the 2024 Farnborough Airshow, modernising its fleet and becoming the first carrier in Libya to order the type. Aside from marking a new chapter in the company’s history, it will considerably reduce the country’s average aircraft fleet age.
More recently, Buraq Air also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the 2025 Dubai Airshow for 10 Airbus A320neos. It hopes toleverage strategic partner Medsky Airways in the operation of the planes. Medsky, contrary to Buraq, is allowed to fly between Libya and the European Union.
With the purchasing power of privately-owned carriers in the country, the reasons behind a single, strong and merged national carrier makes a lot of sense. It is not immediately clear whether the Libyan Airlines and Afriqiyah Airways brands will disappear.
In December 2025, Tunis remains the top destination for local and foreign airlines flying to Libya with up to 14 daily flights to destinations across the country. Nine of these are from Tripoli.
Top destinations outside Libya by weekly frequency – December 2025
| Destination | Country | Weekly frequency (ops/week) |
| Tunis (TUN) | Tunisia | 89 |
| Istanbul (IST) | Turkey | 57 |
| Cairo (CAI) | Egypt | 34 |
| Borg El Arab / Alexandria (HBE) | Egypt | 13 |
| Amman (AMM) | Jordan | 10 |
| Jeddah (JED) | Saudi Arabia | 9 |
| Rome Fiumicino (FCO) | Italy | 5 |
| Dubai (DXB) | United Arab Emirates | 4 |
| Malta (MLA) | Malta | 2 |
| Milan Malpensa (MXP) | Italy | 2 |
Source: Cirium
Istanbul takes second place, with up to nine daily flights, followed by Cairo with up to eight daily and Alexandria with up to four.
Featured image: Szymon Bartosz | stock.adobe.com
