Libyan Wings launches to help with Libya's aviation reconstruction. A320neos and A350s on order

Launching a new airline in Libya brings all the challenges that would be expected, and then others. Libyan Wings' home base is at Tripoli; its base at the local airport has been destroyed, there are essentially no private banks or credit cards, and Libyan Wings must be designated by the government as a local carrier. A key challenge is that foreign governments may not recognise the Libyan government that authorises Libyan Wings.

Still, Libyan Wings persisted with an inaugural flight from Tripoli to Istanbul on 21-Sep-2015, only to be told that day Libyans would need a visa before their arrival; yet there is no Turkish embassy or consulate at Tripoli.

Libyan Wings has its challenges set out, but the privately-owned carrier's investors retain a long-term view, assessing the carrier as meeting air travel demand in the country, and facilitating many reconstruction efforts. Full-service Libyan Wings' single A319 will be joined by another in Nov-2015, and then one or two more A320 family aircraft over a year. Libyan Wings already has an order with Airbus for A320neos and A350s, placed in 2013.