Libya said work had begun on a new 1 billion euro airport for the capital Tripoli which will be able to welcome 20 million travellers per year.

The work is being carried out by a consortium of six companies including Vinci of France, Oderbrecht of Brazil and TAV of Turkey, under the supervision of a French research consultancy, state news agency Jana cited project director Abdel Majid Sadah as saying.

The 1,165 hectare site will be able to handle up to 100 planes, with a car park capacity of 4,400 spaces, Sadah said.

Transport Minister Mohammed Abu Ajila said the new airport would inaugurate a 'radical change' in the country's air transport sector, adding that a further 2 billion euro have been set aside to modernise other airports in the country.