Former Sidra Airport

Sidra, LY 🇱🇾 Closed Airport

ICAO

LY-0020

IATA

-

Elevation

20 ft

Region

LY-SR

Local Time

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Airport Information

GPS Code: Not available

Local Code: Not available

Location: 30.632622° N, 18.322921° E

Continent: AF

Type: Closed Airport

Keywords: Essider HLSD

Terminal Information Not Available
Terminal arrivals and departures are only available for airports with scheduled commercial service and IATA codes.

External Links

Nearby Points of Interest

What Travelers Say

AI-Generated Summary Based on web research

No recent traveler reviews or experiences for Former Sidra Airport (LY-0020) in Sidra, Libya, could be found. The search results primarily refer to "Rio Sidra Airport (RSI)" in Panama and "Red Sea International Airport (RSI)" in Saudi Arabia, suggesting a potential confusion in the airport identification or a lack of publicly available information regarding commercial operations and traveler experiences at the specified Libyan airport. Due to the ongoing conflict and instability in the Sidra region of Libya, it is highly probable that the airport is not currently operational for commercial passenger travel, hence the absence of recent traveler feedback.

No traveler reviews found.

No traveler reviews found.

Due to the lack of available information and the geopolitical situation in the region, it is not possible to provide a summary of recent traveler experiences for Former Sidra Airport (LY-0020) in Sidra, Libya.

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This summary is automatically generated by AI based on web research of traveler reviews and experiences. AI-generated content may not always be 100% accurate.

Current Weather Conditions

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For Pilots

Designation Length Width Surface Status

Type Description Frequency

Ident Name Type Frequency

Airport Closure Information

Last updated: Nov 21, 2025
Closure Date

Circa 2014. The airport became non-operational following the outbreak of the Second Libyan Civil War. Intense and repeated fighting for control of the vital Es Sider oil terminal and the surrounding 'Oil Crescent' region made civilian aviation impossible.

Reason for Closure

Military Conflict and Damage. The airstrip was situated in the heart of a major conflict zone. It was rendered unusable due to direct and collateral damage from battles between various armed factions, including the Libyan National Army (LNA), the Petroleum Facilities Guard (PFG), and attacks by ISIS militants in 2016. The extreme security risks and its strategic value as a military asset led to the cessation of all civil and corporate flight operations.

Current Status

The airport is defunct and abandoned. Recent satellite imagery confirms the single runway is in a severe state of disrepair, with a visibly deteriorated and sand-covered surface. There are no aircraft, ground support equipment, or signs of any aviation activity. The site now exists as derelict land within the heavily secured perimeter of the Es Sider Oil Terminal, which is controlled by the Libyan National Army (LNA) and its affiliated security forces. It serves no current purpose.

Historical Significance

The airport was a private, logistical airstrip built exclusively to serve the Es Sider Oil Terminal, one of Libya's most critical crude oil export ports. Constructed likely in the 1960s along with the terminal, its primary purpose was to facilitate the movement of personnel (engineers, technicians, executives) and time-sensitive light cargo for Libya's National Oil Corporation (NOC) and the international oil companies involved in the concession. It played a crucial role in the operational efficiency and maintenance of the remote oil infrastructure for decades.

Reopening Prospects

There are no known or publicly discussed plans to reopen this specific airstrip. The logistical and aviation needs of the Oil Crescent region are served by the nearby and significantly larger Ras Lanuf Airport (IATA: LFO, ICAO: HLNF). Given the extensive damage, the high cost of reconstruction, and the existence of a superior alternative, reopening the former Sidra airstrip is considered economically unviable and strategically redundant. All investment focus is on securing and restoring oil production facilities.

Nearby Airports

Marsa al Brega Airport
LMQ • HLMB
Marsa al Brega, LY
Medium Airport
~124 km away
Sidra Airport
HL80
Sidra, LY
Small Airport
~1 km away
Ras Lanuf Airport
HLNF
Ras Lanuf, LY
Small Airport
~24 km away
Ras Lanuf Highway Airport
LY-0008
Ras Lanuf, LY
Small Airport
~32 km away
Dahra Airport
HLRA
Dahra, LY
Small Airport
~134 km away
Jofra Oilfield Airport
LY-0011
Jofra, LY
Small Airport
~144 km away
Distances are approximate and calculated as straight-line distances.