Libyan Wings

Libyan Wings Airlines Co JSC (Arabic: شركة الاجنحة الليبية‎), or Libyan Wings (Arabic: الأجنحة الليبية‎), is an airline with its head office on the grounds of Mitiga International Airport in Tripoli, Libya.[3] It started operations in September 2015 after facing delays because of political instability in Libya. As of January 2020, the airline operates four Airbus A319s to four destinations in Libya, Tunisia and Turkey.

Libyan Wings
IATA ICAO Callsign
YL[1] LWA[1] LIBYAN WINGS[2]
Commenced operations21 September 2015
Operating basesMitiga International Airport
Fleet size4
Destinations4
HeadquartersTripoli, Libya
Key peopleZiad Farhoud, CEO
Employees120–130 (November 2016)
Websitelibyanwings.ly

History

In June 2013, ch-aviation reported that Libyan Wings intended to start operations in November of that year.[4] 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.[5] In May 2014, Libyan Wings signed to lease two Airbus A319s from a Dubai-based company,[6] planning to begin flights later in the year.[7] 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.[8]

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.[8] The airline commenced operations on 21 September 2015 with a flight from Tripoli to Istanbul.[9] Four days later,[10] Turkey required all Libyan citizens to have a visa before entering the country; Libyan Wings had to suspend operations while its passengers traveled to the Turkish consulate in Misrata, 200 kilometres (120 mi) away, to obtain their visas.[11]

Flights to Tunis began in October 2015,[10] and Istanbul operations have since resumed.[8] As of October 2016, the memorandum of understanding with Airbus is still in effect, although the order has not been finalised yet.[8]

Corporate affairs

Libyan Wings is headquartered in Tripoli, and its chief executive officer is Ziad Farhoud.[8] The airline has at least ten investors.[lower-alpha 1][9] As of November 2016, the airline has between 120 and 130 employees.[12] The majority of customers are Libyan citizens and are travelling for business purposes.[8]

Destinations

As of January 2021, Libyan Wings operates scheduled flights to the destinations:[13]

Libya
Tunisia
Turkey

Fleet

As of January 2020, Libyan Wings operates the following aircraft:[15]

Libyan Wings fleet
Aircraft In Service Orders Passengers Notes
C Y Total
Airbus A319-100 4 — 12 108 120
Total 4 —

Notes
  1. The Libyan government prohibits a party from holding more than a 10% stake in an airline. Libyan Wings has not indicated exactly how many investors it has, but it has said that they are all businessmen.[9]

References
  1. "Libyan Wings". ch-aviation. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  2. "7340.2F with Change 1 and Change 2 and Change 3" (PDF). Federal Aviation Administration. 15 October 2015. p. 3–1–61. Retrieved 9 December 2016.
  3. "Contact". Libyan Wings. Retrieved 2019-09-03. Libyan Wings Airlines Co JSC (Company Registration # 36559) Mitiga International Airport Tripoli, Libya - Page in Arabic: "الاتصال بنا شركة الاجنحة الليبية (مسجلة برقم: 36559) مطار معيتيقة الدولي طرابلس, ليبيا "
  4. "Libyan Wings set for November 2013 launch". ch-aviation. 12 June 2013. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
  5. "Libyan Wings orders three A350 XWBs and four A320neo's" (Press release). Airbus. 18 November 2013. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
  6. "DAE Signs Long-term Lease Agreements with Libyan Wings" (Press release). Dubai Aerospace Enterprise. 21 May 2014. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
  7. "Libyan Wings defers delivery of maiden A319s". ch-aviation. 12 December 2014. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
  8. Oldorf, Max (23 October 2016). "ch-aviation interview: Edgardo Badiali, CEO Libyan Wings". ch-aviation. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
  9. "Libyan Wings launches to help with Libya's aviation reconstruction. A320neos and A350s on order". CAPA - Centre for Aviation. 11 November 2015. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
  10. El Gazzar, Shereen (25 October 2015). "Libyan Wings turns to Istanbul". The National. Abu Dhabi. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
  11. Rivers, Martin (26 October 2015). "Out of the ashes, a new Libyan airline takes flight". Al Arabiya. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
  12. "Libyan Wings looks for new aircraft and higher frequencies". Arabian Aerospace. 24 November 2016. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
  13. lybianwings.ly retrieved 27 January 2021
  14. "Libyan airline plans to double fleet with Airbus jetliners". The National. Abu Dhabi. 23 November 2016. Retrieved 4 December 2016.
  15. "Global Airline Guide 2019 (Part One)". Airliner World (October 2019): 19.
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