Key Takeaways
• Saudi and Libyan officials inspected Mitiga airport on May 11, 2025, aiming to restore direct flights.
• The visit focused on harmonizing security protocols to meet strict international aviation standards.
• Direct flights await full safety confirmation due to ongoing risks from local armed groups and technical issues.
A Saudi Civil Aviation Authority group, together with top security managers from big Saudi air transport companies, visited Tripoli’s Mitiga airport on May 11, 2025. Their stop in Libya 🇱🇾 points to bigger plans between Libya and Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦 to bring back safe air travel between the two countries, aiming to help both business travelers and religious pilgrims, even as some risks remain.
Why the Inspection Happened
The Saudi Civil Aviation Authority and the security managers did not just come for a simple tour. They set out to:
- Look closely at how Mitiga airport handles security checks, including how people and luggage are screened.
– Share ideas with Libyan airport staff on how to keep flights and passengers safe. - Try to match their safety methods, so both countries use the same steps when checking planes and people.
- Make sure that all passengers, whether they are going to Saudi Arabia for work, family, or religious reasons, will have a secure airport experience.
Mitiga airport in Tripoli has long been the main airport in Libya’s west, but it has also struggled because of years of fights and other dangers in the region. The timing of this visit is important: Libya has not had direct flights to Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦 for several years due to safety and security worries.
The People Involved in the Process
This visit was not just between a few airport workers. The teams included:
- A representative who helps run all Libyan airports.
- The boss of Mitiga airport.
- Heads of airport and airline security in Libya, including people who handle bigger threats like organized crime and criminal gangs.
- Powerful security managers from the biggest Saudi air transport companies.
- Senior leaders from Saudi Arabia’s main airlines.
By meeting together, these experts could talk openly about what works and what does not in both countries.
Discussions and Main Safety Concerns
The main parts of their conversations focused on the following:
- What needs to be done before an airport can feel “safe enough” to welcome direct international flights.
- Which security rules and steps must be the same in both Libya 🇱🇾 and Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦, to avoid confusion and keep troublemakers from slipping through.
- How can flights avoid being wrongly targeted by defense systems near Mitiga airport?
- What to do about local armed groups, which often control the areas around Tripoli airports and make them risky for journeys.
For travelers, these talks are about more than just paperwork or checks. Business people heading toward Saudi Arabia often want a fast, reliable way to reach meetings. At the same time, religious trips—especially for the Hajj and Umrah—matter deeply to thousands of Libyans each year. Direct flights are easier on families and groups going for these special events.
Recent History and The Push to Restore Flights
The inspection was not just a one-off activity. It came soon after Libya’s Minister of Transport, Mohammed Al-Shahoubi, met with Abdulaziz Al-Duailej, President of the Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation. As reported by VisaVerge.com, their meeting happened during a major aviation conference—the Arab Civil Aviation Organization’s General Assembly in Rabat.
During their discussion, both leaders agreed that restoring direct flights matters for both countries. Flights stopped years ago because Libya’s security situation got worse, making many airlines and aviation authorities worried about traveler safety. The push now is to bring back those connections, but only if both countries’ safety teams—especially security managers—are sure it is safe.
The Role of Security Managers and International Standards
Security managers do more than stand at a gate or check luggage. These experts in both countries watch for risks, keep up with the newest threats to international travel, and make sure everyone from pilots to passengers follows safety rules. During the visit, Saudi and Libyan security managers handed over their own lists of what works at their airports and what needs changing.
They looked at:
- The process for checking people entering the airport.
- How to stop dangerous objects from getting on planes.
- The newest airport technology, such as cameras, sensors, and advanced metal detectors.
- Training airport staff to spot suspicious people or bags without causing panic or delays.
- Emergency plans if things go wrong, either from technical issues or outside dangers like militia attacks.
The Saudi Civil Aviation Authority wants the two countries’ airports to work together better. To do this, they hope to set up more training and possibly even allow Libyan airport staff to learn in Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦.
Why Mitiga and Tripoli Matter
Libya’s main western airport, Mitiga, sits in a city that has seen many changes in the last decade. The airport has been targeted before by rocket attacks, and lawmakers have sometimes worried it is too close to zones controlled by powerful local groups.
Even now, international groups still warn about:
- Mistakes by local defense systems that sometimes confuse civilian planes with military ones.
- Armed groups trying to control access roads to the airport.
- Problems with electricity, which can cause air traffic control systems to stop working on short notice.
Because of risks like these, international aviation bodies have kept warnings active for the Tripoli region’s airports, including the code “HLLM” for Mitiga.
How Do These Risks Affect Flights for Immigrants and Travelers?
Anyone wanting to go to Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦 from Libya 🇱🇾 has found it hard in recent years. This hits hardest for:
- Business owners who need regular, trusted air connections.
- Families with relatives working or studying in Saudi Arabia.
- Pilgrims hoping to visit Islamic holy sites.
Without direct flights, these travelers have to fly through other countries. This means paying more, waiting longer, and sometimes facing extra border questions. Restoring direct flights could make travel easier, quieter, and safer for thousands of people each year.
Airlines, too, have been waiting for a chance to re-enter the Libyan market. They want reassurance that airport staff can spot danger before it gets serious—and that if things go wrong, there is a clear plan in place.
The Bigger Picture: Regional Stability and Civil Aviation Links
The partnership between Libya 🇱🇾 and Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦 is part of broader efforts to strengthen links between Arab countries after years of conflict, border closures, and disruption to regular travel. For years, Libya has been cut off from many direct international air routes, with neighbors wary of putting their planes or passengers at risk.
Airport and airline officials say that returning flights can:
- Restore old trade routes for goods and business.
- Help students access study programs or family members living in Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦.
- Bring pilgrims closer to their religious duties, especially as numbers grow ahead of annual holy events.
But the road ahead is not free of bumps. The two countries still must agree on:
- How to spot danger before it reaches planes or passengers.
- What to do if new threats appear, especially if fighting restarts near Tripoli.
- Who is in charge if events happen fast, and how countries communicate in case of emergencies.
Ongoing Work and Next Steps
Since the delegation’s visit, airport authorities in both countries have started to:
- Share manuals and rulebooks, so Libyan and Saudi staff can work from the same script.
- Prepare for extra joint exercises and “test runs”—where airports simulate emergencies to see if teams respond correctly.
- Keep talking at higher levels, with both governments checking in after each new report from auditors or inspectors.
Saudi Arabia’s aviation authorities, along with airport security managers, are known for sticking to tough international standards. They must now check if Libya’s systems meet these same standards—especially at Mitiga airport, which has seen trouble in the past.
Meanwhile, Libyan authorities are working to fix problems as fast as possible, from power cuts to updating older security equipment.
Immediate and Long-Term Effects for Stakeholders
For travelers, the inspection trip means hope for better, faster trips in the future—but only if safety can be confirmed. For employees at both airports, the visit means new rules, more training, and possibly tougher checks for both passengers and inspectors.
For airline companies, there may soon be a chance to handle new routes, sign fresh agreements, and bring back business that was lost due to security worries.
But for both sides, rushing to reopen flights too soon could be dangerous—so careful checks must continue.
Controversy and Caution
While the visit marks clear progress, some experts are urging patience. Civil aviation warnings remain active for western Libya, especially at Mitiga airport. The risks from armed groups, defense system misidentification, or sudden blackouts are real, and not every problem can be fixed right away.
Airlines and immigration officials are waiting for a green light from the Saudi Civil Aviation Authority before flights resume. Some groups want even stronger checks and more outside experts brought in to review security steps at both ends. There also are calls from within Libya to spread improvements to other airports, not just Mitiga, so that all travelers benefit.
Final Summary
The recent visit by the Saudi Civil Aviation Authority, together with top security managers from Saudi air transport companies, shows both Libya and Saudi Arabia are serious about restoring safe, direct air connections. By sharing ideas, inspecting each other’s systems, and respecting international safety rules, both hope to bring new choices for travelers—if they can solve key risks.
For people looking to travel, study, work, or worship between Libya 🇱🇾 and Saudi Arabia 🇸🇦, this visit could mark the beginning of a safer, more reliable future. They will know that every step is being checked by top safety experts, and changes are being made in real time.
Both sides say they are committed to more visits, stricter checks, and open talks. As long as these promises hold, hope for restored flights remains strong.
For more details on international airport safety and the latest aviation security guidelines, you can visit the International Civil Aviation Organization’s official site.
Learn Today
Saudi Civil Aviation Authority → The government body that regulates and oversees Saudi Arabia’s civil aviation sector, ensuring airports and airlines meet international safety standards.
Mitiga airport → Tripoli’s main airport in western Libya, frequently targeted during conflicts and central to discussions about restoring international flights.
Security managers → Specialists responsible for identifying threats, enforcing safety protocols, and training staff at airports and air transport companies.
Cabotage restrictions → Regulations preventing foreign airlines from operating domestic flights within another country’s territory without special permission.
International Civil Aviation Organization → A United Nations agency that sets global standards and guidelines for aviation safety, security, and efficiency among member countries.
This Article in a Nutshell
Saudi and Libyan officials met at Mitiga airport to restore safe, direct air links. Their visit focused on upgrading security, mutual staff training, and international collaboration. If safety meets standards, flights will resume, benefiting business travelers and pilgrims. Critical risks still make thorough, ongoing inspections vital before full reopening.
— By VisaVerge.com
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