Greece's Marathon Airlines operated its first flights between Athens and the city of Benghazi on Thursday, in preparation for the launch of weekly commercial flights.

Marathon will operate two flights per week (every Monday and Thursday) between the cities starting from April 21 to October 30, 2023.

Greece's Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that the Greek Consul in Benghazi, Stavros Venizelos, was on board the trip on Thursday.

It added that it sees the new connection as a precursor to deepening its presence in and cooperation with all of Libya when the internal situation there allows for it.