Tunisia reopens airspace for Libyan flights

The Tunisian government on Tuesday decided to reopen its airspace to flights from and to neighboring Libya after a six-month shutdown, according to a statement from Tunisian Ministry of Transport.

Flights will resume from both Libya's western and eastern regions, the statement said, adding that the decision comes "after meetings between departments of civil aviation of both countries, and after inspections by a team of specialists of civil aviation safety and security."

Libya has been deadlocked in a seemingly endless war between pro-secular militias and Islamist militants since the downfall of its late leader Muammar Gaddafi. The air traffic in the North African country is therefore interrupted from time to time due to air strikes and armed clashes.

Many flight operators have suspended their flights to and from Libya and ordered their planes to avoid Libyan air space.