Medavia (Malta International) is planning to venture into the domestic Libyan market and has applied to the Libyan Civil Aviation Authority (LYCAA) for an Air Operator's Certificate (AOC).
The Maltese carrier's chief executive, Rammah Ettir, told Forbes that the provisionally-named Medlib, or Medavia Libya, expects to complete certification during the second half of 2019 in time for a 2020 launch.
In terms of network, Ettir said Medlib would connect Tripoli Mitiga with all of Libya's main city centres - Benghazi, Sebha, Misurata, Zintan, Brak, Kufra, Ghat, and Tobruk - initially before venturing into the regional market where Malta International, Djerba (Tunisia), and Alexandria Borg el Arab, and Luxor (Egypt) are potential destinations.
Operations will be onboard a fleet of three turboprops with the ATR72 and Dash 8-400 currently being evaluated. The aircraft will be leased from Medlib's Maltese parent so as to ensure European connectivity if and when the need arises.
Medavia was established in Malta in 1978 as a joint venture between the Maltese and Libyan governments. However, in 2011, Air Malta (Malta International) sold its shareholding to the Libyan Arab Foreign Investment Company (LAFICO) thus leaving the Libyan firm with absolute control over the carrier. As such, in order to comply with European Union (EU) rules governing foreign ownership of EU-based airlines, LAFICO sold a 51% stake to Air Nostrum (YW, Valencia Manises) in 2017.
