Misrata Airport

Misrata Airport (IATA: MRA, ICAO: HLMS) is an international airport serving Misrata, a Mediterranean coastal city in the Misrata District of Libya. It also acts as an air base and training center for the Libyan Air Force.[4]

Misrata International Airport

مطار مصراته الدولي
Summary
Airport typePublic/Military
OperatorLibyan Airports Authority
ServesMisrata, Libya
Opened1998
Elevation AMSL60 ft / 18 m
Coordinates32°19′32″N 15°3′35″E
Websitewww.misurataairport.ly
Map
MRA
Location within Libya
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
15/33 3,400 11,155 Asphalt
Source: GCM[1] SkyVector[2] Google Maps[3]

The runway length does not include a 305 metres (1,001 ft) paved overrun on each end.

The Misrata VOR-DME (Ident: MIS) is located on the field.[5]

History

The airport was created in 1939 as a small landing site in the Misurata province of Italian Libya.

On 15 December 2011 the airport celebrated its first regularly scheduled international commercial flights by a non-Libyan airline (Turkish Airlines).

On 14 July 2014, the airport was closed to flights due to clashes at Tripoli International Airport, which Misurata Airport is dependent on for its operations.[6] Flights resumed on the night of 15 July.[7]

On August 3, 2020, a fire destroyed the airport's passenger terminal.[8]

Military use

The Libyan Air Force operates the Soko G-2 aircraft extensively at Misurata in both a training and counterinsurgency capacity.

The first Libyan warplane to challenge the no-fly zone during the Libyan Civil War was a G-2 from Misurata. It was reported to have been promptly shot down by the French Air Force.[9][10] A few hours later an armed forces spokesman specified that the plane was destroyed on the runway with an AASM air-to-ground missile just after it had landed.[11]

Airlines and destinations
AirlinesDestinations
Afriqiyah AirwaysIstanbul, Jeddah,[12] Sfax, Tunis
Libyan Airlines Tunis[13]
Libyan Wings[14] Istanbul, Tunis

See also

References
  1. Airport information for Misrata Airport at Great Circle Mapper.
  2. "Misrata Airport". SkyVector. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  3. "Misurata Airport". Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  4. "Libya Air Order of Battle". GlobalSecurity.org. 5 March 2011. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
  5. "Misrata VOR". Our Airports. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
  6. 90% of aircraft destroyed at Tripoli airport, Libya may seek international assistance RT. 15 July 2014.
  7. Tripoli airport under fire for fourth day Al Jazeera. 16 July 2014. Accessed 17 July 2014
  8. https://www.libyaherald.com/2020/08/04/misrata-airport-closed-after-fire-mitiga-to-reopen-on-9-august-as-maltese-inspection-delegation-considers-flight-resumption/
  9. "Gadhafi's Warplane Destroyed By French Fighter Jets in Misrata". ABC News. 24 March 2011. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
  10. "French fighter shoots down Libyan jet". BBC News. 24 March 2011. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
  11. "Libya live (16:22)". The Telegraph. 24 March 2011. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
  12. https://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/283689/afriqiyah-airways-resumes-misurata-jeddah-service-in-1h19/
  13. http://info.flightmapper.net/airport/MRA
  14. lybianwings.ly retrieved 27 January 2021
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