Libyan Arab Airlines - Definition and Overview

Libyan Arab Airlines (in Arabic: الخطوط الجوية العربية الليبية) is the national airline of Libya.

Libyan Arab Airlines Airbus A300 landing

Libyan Arab Airlines logo

Code Data

• IATA Code: LN
• ICAO Code: LAA

History

Libyan Arab Airlines began as Kingdom of Libya Airlines and used Caravelle jets to Europe in the 1960s. They operated Boeing 727s on European services during the late 1970s and early 1980s. The London Heathrow service was stopped in the 1980s due to political problems. Boeing 707s were used on long-haul services.

On February 21, 1973, a Boeing 727 of Libyan Arab Airlines was shot by Israeli air forces that suspected it of being an enemy plane. Among 113 on board only 5 (1 crew member and 4 passengers) survived.

During the 1980s, Libyan Arab enjoyed a large presence in European airports. But after the bombing of the Pan Am Boeing 747 over Lockerbie, Scotland in 1988 by Libyan terrorists, the United Nations imposed several sanctions on the country of Libya, similar to the ones imposed on Iraq. Because of that, the airline was forced to fly for a little more than ten years only to domestic destinations, using their old airplanes. After Libya finally released the alleged bombers, international commercial aviation contacts with that country began to be re-established, and at the same time, Libyan Arab Airlines began to re-establish its name in the international market.

Fleet

The aircraft fleet consists of:

• 2 Airbus A300-600
• 2 Airbus A310-200
• 3 Boeing 707
• 6 Boeing 727-200
• 16 Others

External Links

• Libyan Arab Airlines (Arab Air Carriers Organisation) (http://www.aaco.org/airlines_libyan.asp)