Mitiga International Airport Guide

Mitiga International Airport sits 8 kilometres east of Tripoli's city centre, making it the closest major airport to the Libyan capital. Originally built in 1923 as an Italian military base, it served as Wheelus Air Base under American administration until 1970, then as Okba Ben Nafi Air Base before conversion to civilian use in 1995. Since 2018 it has been the sole international airport serving Tripoli, following closures at other facilities.

In September 2024, a new passenger terminal was opened, expanding the total building area to over 23,000 square metres with capacity for 3 million passengers per year. The terminal includes 30 passenger platforms, a baggage handling system, duty-free retail, and a business lounge. Libya's Airports Authority operates the facility, which is classified as a joint public and military site.

The airport connects Tripoli to 15 destinations across 11 countries. Key routes run to Tunis, Istanbul, Cairo, and Benghazi, served by carriers including Libyan Wings, Buraq Air, Afriqiyah Airways, Libyan Airlines, Turkish Airlines, and EgyptAir. An EU flight ban limits European airline access, though Italian, Jordanian, and other regional carriers maintain scheduled services.