The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has withdrawn earlier warnings relating to aviation safety in Libyan airspace, Tripoli’s Minister of Transport Mohamed Al-Shahoubi announced on 26 October 2026. The warnings had been in place since 2013 and 2015 and their removal marks a formal change in ICAO’s advisory position on Libya.
What Tripoli says it will do next
In a statement reproduced by Libyan authorities, Minister Al-Shahoubi said the decision is the product of coordinated work with international organisations and national efforts to modernise navigation systems and airport infrastructure. The ministry said it will launch a promotional programme aimed at international carriers and will encourage airlines to resume direct services and to use the Libyan air corridor linking Europe and Africa.
“Today, we announce an important decision by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to lift previous warnings regarding aviation safety in our airspace—warnings that had been in place since 2013 and 2015, after more than a decade.” — Mohamed Al-Shahoubi, Minister of Transport, Tripoli
The minister’s statement sets out a series of objectives the transport ministry associates with the ICAO decision, including boosting overflight traffic, stimulating air-traffic revenues and supporting tourism and investment. It also notes continued engagement with international authorities to satisfy remaining requirements for lifting restrictions on Libyan airlines.
Official context and limitations
The announcement frames the ICAO action as a step in restoring Libya’s role in international air navigation. It does not, however, claim that all operational restrictions imposed by other states or regulators have been removed. The ministry said remaining limitations on Libyan carriers will be addressed in coordination with the relevant international authorities.
- Authority: International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
- Announcing government: Libyan Ministry of Transport, Tripoli
- Warnings removed: advisories in force since 2013 and 2015
The ministry’s text highlights recent investment in airport infrastructure and navigation modernisation as factors that restored confidence among international partners. It also describes the decision as an opportunity to promote Libya as a destination for business and tourism, and to increase the use of the country’s airspace as a transit corridor.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Decision | ICAO lifted previous safety warnings for Libyan airspace |
| Source of announcement | Mohamed Al-Shahoubi, Minister of Transport (Tripoli) |
| Warnings in force since | 2013 and 2015 |
Tripoli’s statement says the authorities will continue to work with international bodies to meet the technical and operational standards needed to lift remaining restrictions on Libyan airlines — a process the ministry described as ongoing.
The removal of ICAO advisories is likely to be of particular interest to carriers and route planners that operate between Europe and Africa, given Libya’s geographic position on common north–south and east–west tracks. The transport ministry framed the decision as the start of a new phase aimed at restoring the country’s regional and international role in civil aviation.
