According to government spokesman Ahmed Lamine, 90% of the planes at Libya’s Tripoli International Airport have been destroyed after shelling attacks on the site by rival militias. "The government has studied the possibility to bring international forces to enhance security," he told reporters, according to Reuters news agency. It was not immediately clear how many planes were destroyed, but the airport serves as the main hub for several Libyan carriers. Very little shocks Libyans these days, but the latest attack on this vital asset has left many at a loss for words. They didn't think militia would ever go this far.The closure of Tripoli airport is hugely significant both for the business sector and for access to Libya from the outside world. In 2012, Tripoli International Airport accounted for around 57% of the 4.9 million domestic and international passengers who used Libyan airports, with Benghazi's Benina airport (now also closed due to damage) in second place and Misrata third. Some of the immediate implications are likely to be heavy traffic at the Ras Jedir border crossing with Tunisia, which is now effectively the only access point to western Libya, and busier flights from Tunisia to Europe. The true scale of the damage inflicted on the airport is unclear, but a closure of at least several weeks - and potentially much longer - seems unavoidable.It will be interesting to see if the Libyan government will indeed follow through on its threat of bringing foreign security forces into the country. Although the civilian population would welcome any political solution that weakens the militias, the militias will certainly not allow the government to take its power easily.
Damage to the Airport and Aircrafts Are a Big Blow to a Weakened Business Sector