Buraq Air
Encyclopedia
Buraq Air is an airline
with its headquarters on the grounds of Mitiga International Airport in Tripoli
, Libya
. It operates scheduled domestic and international services to Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. Buraq also operates passenger and cargo charter services and flights in support of CHC
. Until recently, the airline's hub was Mitiga Airport, which, although smaller than Tripoli International Airport
, is much closer to the city centre of Tripoli. Its new hub is now Tripoli International.
Its name comes from the buraq
, a creature on which the prophet Muhammad
is believed to have flown from Makkah to Jerusalem.
and Tripoli and four other domestic destinations, as well as international services to Bosnia, Egypt
, Morocco
, Syria
, Tunisia
and Turkey
.
A preliminary agreement has been reached with Boeing
on the purchase of up to 6 Boeing 737-800 aircraft (3 orders and 3 options). Confirmation was made for the acquisition of two of the aircraft of which one was delivered in October, and the second in November 2006. The order for the third aircraft was finalized in September 2006. It had Added 2 de Havilland Canada DHC-8 in service today. It also had 4 Boeing 737-400 aircraft in service today.
. As of 25 August, 2011, at least two 737-800s were still visible on the tarmac of Tripoli International Airport. No Buraq Air planes have been reported damaged or destroyed.
Airline
An airline provides air transport services for traveling passengers and freight. Airlines lease or own their aircraft with which to supply these services and may form partnerships or alliances with other airlines for mutual benefit...
with its headquarters on the grounds of Mitiga International Airport in Tripoli
Tripoli
Tripoli is the capital and largest city in Libya. It is also known as Western Tripoli , to distinguish it from Tripoli, Lebanon. It is affectionately called The Mermaid of the Mediterranean , describing its turquoise waters and its whitewashed buildings. Tripoli is a Greek name that means "Three...
, Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
. It operates scheduled domestic and international services to Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. Buraq also operates passenger and cargo charter services and flights in support of CHC
CHC Helicopter
CHC Helicopter is one of the world’s largest helicopter services company specializing in: Transportation to offshore oil and gas platforms; Civilian search and rescue services; Helicopter maintenance repair and overhaul...
. Until recently, the airline's hub was Mitiga Airport, which, although smaller than Tripoli International Airport
Tripoli International Airport
The Tripoli International Airport is an international airport that serves Tripoli, Libya. It is operated by the Civil Aviation and Meteorology Bureau of Libya and is the nation's largest airport...
, is much closer to the city centre of Tripoli. Its new hub is now Tripoli International.
Its name comes from the buraq
Buraq
Al-Burāq is a mythological steed, described as a creature from the heavens which transported the prophets. The most commonly told story is how in the 7th century, Al-Buraq carried the Islamic prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Jerusalem and back during the Isra and Mi'raj or "Night Journey", which is...
, a creature on which the prophet Muhammad
Muhammad
Muhammad |ligature]] at U+FDF4 ;Arabic pronunciation varies regionally; the first vowel ranges from ~~; the second and the last vowel: ~~~. There are dialects which have no stress. In Egypt, it is pronounced not in religious contexts...
is believed to have flown from Makkah to Jerusalem.
History
The airline was established on October 22, 2000, and started operations on 15 November 2001 and it is the first privately owned airline in Libya. It is also known as Buraq Air TransportDestinations
Buraq Air operates domestic scheduled services between BenghaziBenghazi
Benghazi is the second largest city in Libya, the main city of the Cyrenaica region , and the former provisional capital of the National Transitional Council. The wider metropolitan area is also a district of Libya...
and Tripoli and four other domestic destinations, as well as international services to Bosnia, Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
, Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
, Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
and Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
.
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- SarajevoSarajevoSarajevo |Bosnia]], surrounded by the Dinaric Alps and situated along the Miljacka River in the heart of Southeastern Europe and the Balkans....
(Sarajevo International AirportSarajevo International AirportSarajevo International Airport , also known as Butmir Airport, is the main international airport in Bosnia and Herzegovina, located southwest of the railway station in the capital city of Sarajevo in the suburb of Butmir....
)
- Sarajevo
- Egypt
- AlexandriaAlexandriaAlexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...
(Alexandria International Airport) - CairoCairoCairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
(Cairo International AirportCairo International AirportCairo International Airport is the busiest airport in Egypt and the primary hub for Star Alliance member EgyptAir. The airport is located to the north-east of the city around from the business area of the city.The airport is administered by the Egyptian Holding Co...
)
- Alexandria
- Libya
- BenghaziBenghaziBenghazi is the second largest city in Libya, the main city of the Cyrenaica region , and the former provisional capital of the National Transitional Council. The wider metropolitan area is also a district of Libya...
(Benina International AirportBenina International AirportBenina International Airport serves Benghazi, Libya. It is located in the town of Benina, 19 km east of Benghazi, from which it takes its name. The airport is operated by the Civil Aviation and Meteorology Bureau of Libya and is the second largest in the country after Tripoli International...
) - Bayda (La Abraq AirportLa Abraq AirportLa Abraq Airport or Al Bayda Airport is an airport in the eastern Libyan city of Bayda.The airport is also known as El Beida Airport, La Braq Airport and Airport El Beida la Abraq.-Airlines and destinations:...
) - Sabha (Sabha AirportSabha AirportSabha Airport is an airport in Sabha, southern Libya - .-Future plans:A LD600 million contract has been signed with a joint venture comprising Lebanon's CCC and a new Libyan investment and development company for a new passenger terminal at Sabha Airport...
) - TripoliTripoliTripoli is the capital and largest city in Libya. It is also known as Western Tripoli , to distinguish it from Tripoli, Lebanon. It is affectionately called The Mermaid of the Mediterranean , describing its turquoise waters and its whitewashed buildings. Tripoli is a Greek name that means "Three...
(Tripoli International AirportTripoli International AirportThe Tripoli International Airport is an international airport that serves Tripoli, Libya. It is operated by the Civil Aviation and Meteorology Bureau of Libya and is the nation's largest airport...
)
- Benghazi
- Morocco
- RabatRabatRabat , is the capital and third largest city of the Kingdom of Morocco with a population of approximately 650,000...
(Rabat-Sale AirportRabat-Salé AirportSalé Airport or Rabat-Salé Airport is an airport serving Rabat, the capital city of Morocco, and also the capital of the Rabat-Salé-Zemmour-Zaer region. It is a joint use public and military airport, also known as the First Royal Air Force Base...
)
- Rabat
- Syria
- AleppoAleppoAleppo is the largest city in Syria and the capital of Aleppo Governorate, the most populous Syrian governorate. With an official population of 2,301,570 , expanding to over 2.5 million in the metropolitan area, it is also one of the largest cities in the Levant...
(Aleppo International AirportAleppo International AirportAleppo International Airport is an international airport serving Aleppo, Syria. The airport serves as a secondary hub for Syrian Arab Airlines.The history of the airport dates back to the beginning of the 20th century...
)
- Aleppo
- Tunisia
- TunisTunisTunis is the capital of both the Tunisian Republic and the Tunis Governorate. It is Tunisia's largest city, with a population of 728,453 as of 2004; the greater metropolitan area holds some 2,412,500 inhabitants....
(Tunis-Carthage International AirportTunis-Carthage International AirportTunis–Carthage Airport is the international airport serving Tunis in Tunisia.The airport is named for the historic city of Carthage, located just north of the airport. It is the base of operations for four airlines: Tunisair, Nouvelair Tunisia, Tunisair Express and Tunisavia...
)
- Tunis
- Turkey
- IstanbulIstanbulIstanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
(Atatürk International AirportAtatürk International AirportAtatürk International Airport is the major international airport in Istanbul, Turkey. Opened in 1924 and located in Yeşilköy, on the European side of the city, it is west of the city centre. In 1980, the airport was renamed to Atatürk International Airport in honor of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the...
)
- Istanbul
Fleet
The Buraq Air fleet consists of the following aircraft (as of 2 March 2011) http://www.ch-aviation.ch/aircraft.php?search=set&airline=BRQ&al_op=1:| Type | Number | Seats | Routes | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boeing 737-400 | 1 | |||
| Boeing 737-800 | 2 (plus 1 on order) | |||
| British Aerospace Jetstream 32 | 1 | |||
| Let L-410 UVP-E L-410 The Let L-410 Turbolet is a twin-engined short-range transport aircraft, manufactured by the Czech aircraft manufacturer LET, mostly used for passenger transport. Since 1969 more than 1100 airframes have been produced.-Development:... |
3 | |||
| Ilyushin Il-76 Ilyushin Il-76 The Ilyushin Il-76 is a multi-purpose four-engined strategic airlifter designed by Ilyushin design bureau. It was first planned as a commercial freighter in 1967. Intended as a replacement for the Antonov An-12, the Il-76 was designed for delivering heavy machinery to remote, poorly-serviced areas... MD |
1 | |||
| Ilyushin Il-76 Ilyushin Il-76 The Ilyushin Il-76 is a multi-purpose four-engined strategic airlifter designed by Ilyushin design bureau. It was first planned as a commercial freighter in 1967. Intended as a replacement for the Antonov An-12, the Il-76 was designed for delivering heavy machinery to remote, poorly-serviced areas... TD |
1 |
A preliminary agreement has been reached with Boeing
Boeing
The Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
on the purchase of up to 6 Boeing 737-800 aircraft (3 orders and 3 options). Confirmation was made for the acquisition of two of the aircraft of which one was delivered in October, and the second in November 2006. The order for the third aircraft was finalized in September 2006. It had Added 2 de Havilland Canada DHC-8 in service today. It also had 4 Boeing 737-400 aircraft in service today.
2011 Libyan civil war
Buraq air was grounded during the 2011 Libyan civil war2011 Libyan civil war
The 2011 Libyan civil war was an armed conflict in the North African state of Libya, fought between forces loyal to Colonel Muammar Gaddafi and those seeking to oust his government. The war was preceded by protests in Benghazi beginning on 15 February 2011, which led to clashes with security...
. As of 25 August, 2011, at least two 737-800s were still visible on the tarmac of Tripoli International Airport. No Buraq Air planes have been reported damaged or destroyed.