Misrata Airport
Misrata Airport (IATA: MRA, ICAO: HLMS) is an international airport serving Misrata, a Mediterranean coastal city in the Misrata District of Libya. It also acts as an air base and training center for the Libyan Air Force.[4]
Misrata International Airport مطار مصراته الدولي | |||||||||||
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Summary | |||||||||||
Airport type | Public/Military | ||||||||||
Operator | Libyan Airports Authority | ||||||||||
Serves | Misrata, Libya | ||||||||||
Opened | 1998 | ||||||||||
Elevation AMSL | 60 ft / 18 m | ||||||||||
Coordinates | 32°19′32″N 15°3′35″E | ||||||||||
Website | www.misurataairport.ly | ||||||||||
Map | |||||||||||
MRA Location within Libya | |||||||||||
Runways | |||||||||||
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The runway length does not include a 305 metres (1,001 ft) paved overrun on each end.
The Misrata VOR-DME (Ident: MIS) is located on the field.[5]
History
The airport was created in 1939 as a small landing site in the Misurata province of Italian Libya.
On 15 December 2011 the airport celebrated its first regularly scheduled international commercial flights by a non-Libyan airline (Turkish Airlines).
On 14 July 2014, the airport was closed to flights due to clashes at Tripoli International Airport, which Misurata Airport is dependent on for its operations.[6] Flights resumed on the night of 15 July.[7]
On August 3, 2020, a fire destroyed the airport's passenger terminal.[8]
Military use
The Libyan Air Force operates the Soko G-2 aircraft extensively at Misurata in both a training and counterinsurgency capacity.
The first Libyan warplane to challenge the no-fly zone during the Libyan Civil War was a G-2 from Misurata. It was reported to have been promptly shot down by the French Air Force.[9][10] A few hours later an armed forces spokesman specified that the plane was destroyed on the runway with an AASM air-to-ground missile just after it had landed.[11]
Airlines and destinations
Passenger
Airlines | Destinations |
---|---|
Afriqiyah Airways | Istanbul, Jeddah,[12] Sfax, Tunis |
Libyan Airlines | Tunis[13] |
Libyan Wings | Istanbul, Tunis |
Cargo
Airlines | Destinations |
---|---|
Global Aviation and Services Group | Istanbul-Sabiha Gökcen, Ostend |
Buraq Air | Istanbul-Sabiha Gökcen |
Afriqiyah Airways Cargo | Istanbul-Sabiha Gökcen |
References
- Airport information for Misrata Airport at Great Circle Mapper.
- "Misrata Airport". SkyVector. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
- "Misurata Airport". Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
- "Libya Air Order of Battle". GlobalSecurity.org. 5 March 2011. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
- "Misrata VOR". Our Airports. Retrieved 17 September 2018.
- 90% of aircraft destroyed at Tripoli airport, Libya may seek international assistance RT. 15 July 2014.
- Tripoli airport under fire for fourth day Al Jazeera. 16 July 2014. Accessed 17 July 2014
- https://www.libyaherald.com/2020/08/04/misrata-airport-closed-after-fire-mitiga-to-reopen-on-9-august-as-maltese-inspection-delegation-considers-flight-resumption/
- "Gadhafi's Warplane Destroyed By French Fighter Jets in Misrata". ABC News. 24 March 2011. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
- "French fighter shoots down Libyan jet". BBC News. 24 March 2011. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
- "Libya live (16:22)". The Telegraph. 24 March 2011. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
- https://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/283689/afriqiyah-airways-resumes-misurata-jeddah-service-in-1h19/
- http://info.flightmapper.net/airport/MRA