In response to recent lifts on travel bans by the US State Department, Knoxville’s McGhee Tyson Airport (TYS) will begin offering direct flights to Tripoli and Havana. Airport spokesman Ronald Kadafy said the move is also a way to encourage travelers to utilize Knoxville airports instead of driving the 30 or so hours to Mexico City to catch a cheaper, direct flight. The first flights depart next week, and the return flights are already said to be booked. A State Department spokesman said that with the recent involvement of Oak Ridge in Libya’s weapons programs, it seemed only natural to have direct flights to Libya from Knoxville. Flights will range in price from $300 to $1300, depending on season, day of week, or time of day. If you plan to take one of these flights, please arrive at least one week early to airport check-in.
