Former Swiss Avro RJ100 5A-FLE wearing Air Libya titles at Cranfield on 1 August (Alistair Henderson)
Air Libya has acquired former Swiss Avro RJ100 HB-IYR (msn E3382) from Falko as 5A-FLE. HB-IYR has been in storage at Cranfield since February, when she was returned off-lease to Falko. She was re-registered as G-CFAF in March. That registration was cancelled on 12 July, and she was registered M-ABKX on 24 July. She never wore that registration, however, before being once again re-registered, this time in Libya. She was seen at Cranfield on 31 July, wearing Air Libya titles over the basic Swiss color scheme. Air Libya had previously operated a BAe 146-300 and two Avro RJ100s, but RJ100 5A-FLB (msn E3234) was written off after being severely damaged during fighting near Tripoli’s airport in July 2014, and 146-300 5A-DKQ (msn E3191) was set afire by militants fighting for control of Dahra Airport, in eastern Libya, in May 2015.
Recent news items on Air Libya:
- Air Libya BAe 146-300 burned at Dahra (2015-05-31)
- Air Libya Avro RJ100 damaged in airport fighting (2014-07-22)
- Air Libya buys leased BAe 146-200 (2013-03-15)
- Second Avro RJ00 painted in Air Libya colors (2013-01-18)
- Second Avro RJ100 being prepared for Air Libya (2012-12-31)