The freighter will be based at Tripoli’s Mitiga International Airport on a long-term lease agreement. The An-26, which offers a 5.5-tonne payload, will be available for ad-hoc cargo charter requirements within Libya as well as international flights to and from the EU and North Africa.

The An-26 is considered to be one of the most versatile aircraft in the market due to its ability to use short and unpaved runways in remote locations.

It is the intention to introduce domestic scheduled services to connect Tripoli and Benghazi with Libya’s more remote airfields, including regular operations to the oil fields in the south of the country.

The venture will provide much needed logistics services in a country where few international aviation companies are willing to invest in establishing services. It will also provide an alternative to seafreight routes to and from Europe, which have been subject to high rates.

“We’re delighted to be working in partnership with Air Libya to develop air cargo solutions in the region. Freight forwarders and energy industry clients will benefit from this cooperation, which offers professional, reliable services between the country’s key hubs and more remote locations,” Paul Drew, Chapman Freeborn’s project manager, said. “Given the limited airfreight and seafreight options currently available, the news of this service has been very well received so far.”