DOT Lifts Restrictions On Some US-Libya Air Services

The Department of Transportation today lifted restrictions to allow certain air services between the United States and Libya. The United States first imposed sanctions on Libya in 1986, and applied additional prohibitions on air services between the United States and Libya in 1992.

The department's order was triggered by an action of the US Department of Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). DOT is now able to begin permitting US airlines to conduct all-cargo charter operations as well as to place their codes on flights operated by third-country, non-Libyan carriers between the United States and Libya. All other air services, including US-carrier passenger and scheduled cargo flights, and any flights by a Libyan carrier or an aircraft of Libyan registry, remain prohibited.

Most US carriers already hold worldwide charter authority. US carriers that do not have authority to provide scheduled US-Libya services would need to apply for such authority before they could engage in scheduled code-share operations.

FMI: http://dms.dot.gov, docket OST-2004-17526