Qatar Airways has announced it will resume flights to the Libyan capital Tripoli from February 2nd.

Also today, British Airways unveiled plans to resume flights to Tripoli from Tuesday May 1st, 2012.

Qatar Airways will reintroduce scheduled services between Doha and Tripoli after suspending operations last year due to the political situation.

The carrier had been flying to Tripoli for nine years.

Initially, the re-launched route will be served three-times-a-week, via Alexandria, with plans to increase capacity at a later date.

Qatar Airways currently flies to Libya’s north eastern Mediterranean port city of Benghazi with four flights each week, direct from Doha.

Qatar Airways chief executive Akbar Al Baker said reviving the Tripoli flights, now that the political situation had eased, was a welcome boost to the airline’s operations helping meet demand to and from the Libyan capital.

“Libya is an important market for us and it was unfortunate that unfolding events there had affected operations on safety grounds of all airlines flying to the country,” he said.

“We are delighted to be going back to Tripoli shortly and provide and help revive the much-needed air transport system in the country after the difficulties of the past few months.”

Qatar Airways will operate the Tripoli route with an Airbus A320 in a two-class configuration, offering 12 seats in First Class and 132 in Economy.

British Airways

The return of British Airways services between Heathrow and Tripoli follows a thorough security review in conjunction with the UK Government and the Libyan authorities.

British Airways’ chief executive Keith Williams said: “We are delighted to be returning to Libya. Our flights to Tripoli have provided a vital economic link for many years, and it is good news for everyone that we can now restart operations.”

The airline will fly to and from Tripoli three times a week.