The resumption of flights by French airlines over Libyan airspace has raised concerns among some flight crews and their union representatives, according to sources cited by Agence France-Presse.

A representative of France’s main pilots’ union told the agency that employees’ concerns regarding the safety of passengers and crew prompted an independent employee representative body to issue a notice of “imminent and serious danger.”

The agency clarified that the body in question is the Health, Safety, and Working Conditions Committee, which includes most of Air France’s unions among its members.

Issuing this notice requires the airline to inform the Labor Inspectorate and mandates a working meeting to find solutions. This controversy arose after French airlines were once again permitted to fly over Libya at the end of last March.

No Risks to Flying Over Libya

The French National Pilots’ Union (SNPL) relayed the notice to its members but did not directly oppose the resumption of flights over Libya, stating that “there is no unacceptable level of risk,” according to a union source.

Flights over Libya resumed about ten days ago, according to the same source.

Conditions for flying in Libyan airspace

The French Civil Aviation Authority reported that flights over Libyan airspace have been authorized, after French airlines had ceased doing so for more than ten years, under strict conditions effective March 27, which include requiring aircraft to strictly adhere to a single route in both the north-south and south-north directions, and to fly at an altitude exceeding 32,000 feet.

Air France management confirmed this information, explaining that it continuously monitors geopolitical developments in the regions served by or traversed by its aircraft.

It added: “The pilot is authorized to adjust the route at any stage of the flight, in coordination with the company’s operational services and in accordance with the authorities’ instructions.”

Turkish, Qatari, and Emirati airlines fly through Libyan airspace daily

Two sources told the French news agency that several airlines, including Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways, and Emirates, use Libyan airspace daily.

According to one of these sources, flying over Libya reduces the flight time from Paris to N'Djamena, the capital of Chad, by 84 minutes; to Johannesburg (South Africa) by 52 minutes; and to Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, by 47 minutes, thereby saving fuel.

The source confirmed that economic considerations were not a factor in the resumption of flights over Libya, which had been planned since the beginning of the year, noting that the decision was made following comprehensive safety analyses conducted jointly by the airline and the Civil Aviation Authority.