Iraq’s transport ministry announced on Tuesday, December 16th, that a flight operated by Greece’s Aegean Airlines had become the first European civil aircraft in 35 years to land at Baghdad International Airport.
The ministry described the arrival as a milestone, signalling
Iraq’s return to the European aviation map [marking] a new phase of recovery for Iraq’s aviation sector.
European airlines ceased direct operations to Baghdad in the early 1990s, following security concerns stemming from Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait under Saddam Hussein.
After decades of turmoil, Iraq has recently seen improvements in stability, prompting efforts by the government to attract foreign investment to bolster the country’s economy. The new Baghdad–Athens–Baghdad route will initially operate two flights per week, with the possibility of increasing frequency based on demand.
Earlier this year, Aegean Airlines also launched flights to Erbil, the capital of Iraq’s northern autonomous Kurdistan region.
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