Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)– Afriqiyah Airways – the national airlines of Libya on Tuesday introduced Dhaka-Tripoli-Dhaka direct flights acting as the gateway to Africa and East Europe.

A 300 seater Airbus 330 aircraft of the Afriqiyah Airways landed at Zia International Airport in the capital, Dhaka as the first ever African based airlines. It was scheduled to take-off for Tripoli at mid-night on the same day.

With Airbus 320-200, 319-11 and 330-200 category aircraft, the national flag carrier of the North African oil-rich state would initially operate one direct flight per week, catching-up Bangladeshi travellers on their way to Africa and East Europe, officials said.

Banani Travels and Tours, a local travel agency, has been assigned as the General Sales Agents (GSA) for the airlines in Bangladesh.

A modest inauguration ceremony was organized at the Zia International Airport in presence of high officials of the Civil Aviation Authority of Bangladesh (CAAB) and Afriqiyah Airways’ delegation from Libya, according to reports.

BBN/SS/SI/AD-28October09-12:37 am (BST)