A strategic project aimed at relaunching air traffic, trade and economic activity in the central Libyan region

25 and 26 October were key days for Libya, with the official reactivation (Saturday the 25th) and the solemn inauguration (yesterday, Sunday 26 October 2025) of the Sirte Gulf International Airport (also known as Ghardabiya Air Base), located in the eponymous coastal city. The event held yesterday officially marked the end of a prolonged inactivity lasting about twelve years.

The ceremony saw the presence of high-profile authorities, including the Prime Minister appointed by the Libyan House of Representatives, Osama Hammad, and key figures for the infrastructural relaunch, such as the director of the National Development Agency (Nda), Mahmoud Al-Farjani, and the director of the Reconstruction Fund, Belqasim Haftar. The attendance of a crowd of citizens underscored the importance of the infrastructure for the local community.

The airport, identified by the Iata code SRX (Icao code HLGD), had been out of service since 2013, and inactive since the beginning of the Libyan conflict in 2011 that led to the overthrow of Muammar Gheddafi. The reasons for the long interruption are to be attributed to the severe damage and looting suffered following the fighting and the instability that divided the country between rival administrations. The airport is in a strategic position between Tripoli and Benghazi and is also crucial due to its proximity to major oil fields and export ports.

The restoration and modernization work was managed and supervised by the National Development Agency. The Nda Director General, Al-Farjani, described the reopening as a matter of great pride, confirming the completion of all safety, administrative and technical requirements. This is part of a broader national plan aimed at strengthening infrastructure and reinforcing Libya’s civil aviation sector.

Yesterday the airport saw the arrival of seven aircraft. According to other sources, already on Saturday the airport had received the first passenger flights (three in total, from Tripoli with MedSky Airlines and Buraq Airlines, and from Benghazi with Berniq Airlines), after the four test flights from Mitiga International Airport (Tripoli) and one from Benina (Benghazi), organized by the Nda under the supervision of the General Command.

The Sirte Gulf International Airport, which extends over approximately 25 square kilometers, is designed to handle up to 500,000 passengers per year. Its reactivation is considered a strategic project aimed at relaunching air traffic, trade and economic activity in Libya’s central region. The activation of the international code "Srx", after more than a decade and a half, symbolizes an important step forward in reconnecting Libya with the world and a sign of resilience in a country still engaged in the process of stabilization and unification.