DOT 127-04
Contact: Bill Mosley
Tel.: (202) 366-4570
Tuesday, August 10, 2004

DOT Lifts Restrictions
On Some U.S.-Libya Air Services

The U.S. 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 U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). DOT is now able to begin permitting U.S. 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 U.S.-carrier passenger and scheduled cargo flights, and any flights by a Libyan carrier or an aircraft of Libyan registry, remain prohibited.

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

The department’s order may be obtained on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov, docket OST-2004-17526.

Briefing Room