U.S. Embassy Tripoli is aware that effective February 5, 2013, Lufthansa and Austrian airlines have temporarily cancelled service to and from Tripoli International Airport until further notice.  Other carriers, such as Alitalia and British Airways, continue to operate.  U.S. Embassy Tripoli will continue to monitor service schedules of other airlines and advise U.S. citizens of any additional changes.  U.S. citizens residing in Libya should also monitor airline websites for any changes.

We refer all U.S. citizens to the Travel Warning for Libya issued January 2, 2013, strongly advising against all but essential travel to Tripoli and all travel to Benghazi, Bani Walid, and southern Libya, including border areas and the regions of Sabha and Kufra.  Because of ongoing instability and violence, the Department of State’s ability to provide consular services to U.S. citizens in these regions of Libya is extremely limited.

We strongly recommend that U.S. citizens traveling to or living in Libya enroll in the Department's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) website.  STEP enrollment ensures you receive updated information on travel and security within Libya, and makes it easier for the U.S. embassy or nearest U.S. consulate to contact you in an emergency.  

For further information, U.S. citizens should consult the Department of State’s Country Specific Information for Libya.  Stay up to date by bookmarking our Bureau of Consular Affairs website, which contains the current Travel Warnings and Travel Alerts as well as the Worldwide Caution. 

You can also follow the Bureau of Consular Affairs on Twitter and on Facebook, and download our free Smart Traveler iPhone App to have travel information at your fingertips.  You may also follow U.S. Embassy Tripoli on Twitter and on Facebook for information for U.S. citizens. 

Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada, or, for callers outside of the United States and Canada, on a regular toll-line at 1-202-501-4444.  These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).