As Malta Today report that Air Malta is being denied access to Libyan airspace for extra flights to bring back Maltese expats (and, one supposes, others), I would like to suggest alternative modes of transport, including that Virtu Ferries examine the possibility of a trip with their wonderful and huge catamaran to Libya. I am not saying access into Libyan waters would be easy but hey...there are means.

 

Libya denies Air Malta permission to operate extra flights to Tripoli

 

Air Malta has reportedly been denied permission by the authorities in Libya to operate an extra five charter flights to Tripoli in a bid to evacuate foreign workers.

MaltaToday is informed that the flights had been chartered by private companies to get their workers out of the North African country, which is in turmoil.

Air Malta's scheduled flight from Tripoli has so far also been unable to leave Tripoli. It was meant to arrive in Malta at Noon.

The EU is meanwhile drafting a plan for the evacuation of all European nationals, if required. Foreign Ministers are currently meeting in Brussels where the situation in Libya is dominating proceedings.

 

Date:   Monday, 21 February 2011

Ref:     009-2011

Flight Status – KM696/7 from Tripoli

Air Malta confirms that flight KM 696 of today operated normally from Malta to Tripoli.

Flight KM697 left its stand at Tripoli International Airport at 1443 hours Libya time and is expected to arrive in Malta at 1446 hours local time.

An additional demand of passengers and a slow boarding process has delayed the return of the flight back to Malta.