Buraq Air
Buraq Air (El-Buraq Air Transport Inc) is an airline with its headquarters on the grounds of Mitiga International Airport in Tripoli, Libya.[3] It currently operates a minor international scheduled network and additional charter services and flights in support of CHC.[4] The airline's base is Mitiga International Airport as the larger Tripoli International Airport hasn't been operational since several years.
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Founded | 2000 | ||||||
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Hubs | Mitiga International Airport | ||||||
Fleet size | 4[1] | ||||||
Destinations | 7[2] | ||||||
Headquarters | Tripoli, Libya | ||||||
Key people | Cpt. Hassan sharif (Chairman) | ||||||
Website | www.buraq.aero |
History
The airline was established on 22 October 2000,[5] and started operations on 15 November 2001; it is the first privately owned airline in Libya.[4] Its name comes from the buraq, a creature on which the Islamic prophet, Muhammad is believed to have flown from Mecca to Jerusalem, and from there to the various heavens.
As a consequence of the Libyan Civil War and the resulting no-fly zone over the country enforced by NATO in accordance with the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973, all flight operations with Buraq Air were terminated on 17 March 2011. As of 25 August 2011, at least two Boeing 737-800 were still visible on the tarmac of Tripoli International Airport. It has since resumed operations.[6]
Destinations
Current destinations
As of January 2021, Buraq Air serves the following destinations:[2]
- Antalya - Antalya Airport charter
- Bodrum - Bodrum Airport charter
- Gazipaşa - Gazipaşa Airport charter
- Istanbul - Istanbul Airport
- Izmir - Izmir Airport charter
- Tekirdağ - Tekirdağ Çorlu Airport charter
- Tripoli - Mitiga International Airport base
Terminated destinations
The following destinations were terminated in the wake of the Libyan Civil War:
Fleet
As of January 2021, the Buraq Air fleet consists of the following aircraft:[1]
Aircraft | In Fleet | Orders | Passengers | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Boeing 737-400 | 1 | — | 122 | |
Boeing 737-500 | 1 | — | 169 | |
Boeing 737-800 | 2 | — | 189 | |
Total | 4 | — |
Accidents and incidents
- On 17 April 2013, a Buraq Air Boeing 737-800 was hit by gun fire while approaching Tripoli International Airport on a domestic flight from Benghazi. There were no injuries and only limited damage; the aircraft made a normal landing.[7]
References
- planespotters.net - Buraq Air retrieved 21 January 2021
- softaerospace.com - Where we fly retrieved 27 January 2021
- "Company Profile." Buraq Air. Retrieved on 14 May 2010. "The company headquarters are located at Mittiga International Airport in Tripoli - Libya."
- "Directory: World Airlines". Flight International. 27 March 2007. p. 90.
- http://www.quryna.com/detail.php?a_idx=3302%5B%5D (in Arabic)
- United Nations. "Security Council Approves 'No-Fly Zone' over Libya, Authorizing 'All Necessary Measures' to Protect Civilians, by Vote of 10 in Favour with 5 Abstentions".
- Ranter, Harro. "ASN Aircraft accident Boeing 737-8GK (WL) 5A-DMG Tripoli International Airport (TIP)". aviation-safety.net. Retrieved 23 August 2017.