Libyan Wings

IATA	ICAO	Callsign
YL	LWA	LIBYAN WINGS

Commenced operations

21 September 2015

Operating bases

Mitiga International Airport (Tripoli)

Fleet size

2 (November 2016)

Destinations

5 (November 2016)

Headquarters

Tripoli, Libya

Key people

Edgardo Badiali, CEO

Employees

120–130 (November 2016)

Website

libyanwings.ly

Libyan Wings (Arabic: الأجنحة الليبية‎) is an airline based at Mitiga International Airport in Tripoli, Libya. It started operations in September 2015 after facing delays because of political instability in Libya. As of November 2016, the airline operates two Airbus A319s to five destinations in Libya, Tunisia and Turkey.

In June 2013, ch-aviation reported that Libyan Wings intended to start operations in November of that year. In November 2013, the airline signed a memorandum of understanding with Airbus for three Airbus A350-900s and four Airbus A320neos; the anticipated launch date was shifted to early 2014. In May 2014, Libyan Wings signed to lease two Airbus A319s from a Dubai-based company, planning to begin flights later in the year. However, because of the deteriorating political situation in Libya, the airline had to delay its launch further. While it waited for conditions to improve, Libyan Wings retained its Airbus A319s rather than return them to the lessor, even though this action was costly.

In order to obtain its air operator's certificate, the airline had to conduct a proving flight with passengers. Because Tripoli was still unsafe, Libyan Wings operated its proving flight in Turkey with Libyan Civil Aviation Authority officials on board. The airline commenced operations on 21 September 2015 with a flight from Tripoli to Istanbul. Four days later, Turkey required all Libyan citizens to have a visa before entering the country; Libyan Wings had to suspend operations while its passengers travelled to the Turkish consulate in Misrata, 200 kilometres (120 mi) away, to obtain their visas.

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Wikipedia