A field report published by the Italian Nova News Agency confirmed the signing of six new technical agreements between the Italian Civil Aviation Authority and Benina International Airport in Benghazi, in the presence of the President of the Italian Civil Aviation Authority, Pierluigi Di Palma.
The report, followed by Al-Marsad newspaper, explained that the signed agreements are a continuation of the framework agreement concluded in Tripoli with the Benghazi Airport Authority in December 2023, which included an executive protocol for the development of Benina International Airport.
A delegation of entrepreneurs and representatives of leading Italian companies participated in the events, alongside the Italian Consul General in Benghazi, Francesco Saverio De Luigi, and the head of the Economic and Commercial Office at the Italian Embassy in Tripoli, Fabio Guidice. The delegation was received on the Libyan side by Belqasem Haftar, head of the Libya Development and Reconstruction Fund.
The report indicated that the agreements included developing a regional aviation network, purchasing new aircraft, enhancing maintenance services, and expanding cargo shipping operations, in addition to establishing a logistics network for transporting materials and personnel in the civil, agricultural, and industrial sectors.
The report noted that this cooperation comes after the reopening of direct flights between the two countries in early 2025 via the companies “ITA Airways” and the Libyan “Medsky.”
The report quoted Di Palma as saying that these agreements “strengthen integration, dialogue, and the development of commercial activities with a country with which we have historic ties of friendship and cooperation,” adding: “Civil aviation is a tool for uniting cultures, promoting exchanges, and strengthening relations between peoples.”
The report also pointed to a prior meeting in the Italian capital, Rome, between the Italian delegation and the Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Edoardo Rixi, who stressed that “air transport is a fundamental pillar for strengthening bilateral relations between Italy and Libya.”