IRAQ | Aviation Sector

[iraqishi3i]

Originally Posted by makaay31

hahaha this is the first big eu airline, the next airlines will come soon i hope

inshallah , I think our main two targets are the Big airlines such as Virgin and British airways , as soon as they start EVERYONE will follow inshallah

[BigDreamer]

nah not BA

BA is a failing airline

we want Singapore airlines, KLM/Airfrance, perhaps quantas (tho I really hate them, but their network is massive)

[elusive]

Originally Posted by BigDreamer

nah not BA

BA is a failing airline

we want Singapore airlines, KLM/Airfrance, perhaps quantas (tho I really hate them, but their network is massive)

Qantas?! never.

singapore airlines i reckon will be soon, they love competing with emirates...and we still don't have any american airlines

[Infestus]

Is that the austrian plane in the pics? It looks so old. Anyway we can expect that Lufthansa will follow, because Austrian is owned by Lufthansa and they started theyre Erbil flight soon after the flight from Vienna.

[makaay31]

they have one plane that is painted in retro livery and that is the one which flew to baghdad. its an airbus A320

[Persi]

EgyptAir Opens New Routes to Baghdad and Erbil

Posted on 12 June 2011

EgyptAir has announced that it will start operating direct flights to Baghdad and Erbil starting mid July 2011. This decision comes as one of the steps taken by EgyptAir to build new markets and to link Iraq with Europe and North America through Cairo Hub.

“We will start operating 7 weekly flights to Iraq , 4 flights to Baghdad and 3 flights to Erbil starting 15th and 18th of next July successively” said Eng. Hussein Massoud, EgyptAir Holdings Chairman and CEO. He added “Egypt and Iraq are linked together with commercial and cultural bonds, as well; Iraq represents a fertile market for the Egyptian investments.”

Captain Ayman Nasr, EgyptAir Airlines Chairman and CEO said “EgyptAir is confident of its ability to execute a development plan in the Middle East and to create a seamless link with Europe and Africa.”

EgyptAir will operate the flights to Baghdad on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays using the A320 aircraft with 145 seats.

[makaay31]

Emirates to start Baghdad flights in November

The service to Baghdad will operate on a Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday

Published: 11:23 June 14, 2011

Dubai: Emirates will start passenger services to Baghdad four times per week.

Baghdad will be its second destination in Iraq, the carrier said in a statement on Tuesday.

The service, which will operate on a Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, will see Emirates flight EK941 departing Dubai at 7:55am touching down at Baghdad International Airport at 9:40am the same day.

At 11:35am, return flight EK942 will depart Baghdad arriving in Dubai at 14:55pm the same day.

For Emirates, which launched flights to Basra in Iraq in February this year, Baghdad marks the fifth global destination launch in 2011. With Geneva route launched earlier this month, Emirates will kick off Copenhagen and St Petersburg to August 1 and November 1, respectively.

"Baghdad is a strategically important destination for Emirates. Its geographical location, coupled with the fact that few international carriers operate there, makes it the perfect destination for us to tap into and drive revenue from," Shaikh Ahmad Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group, said in a statement.

[BigDreamer]

lol was just about to paste it

[makaay31]

Iraqi Airways sells off Kuwait invasion-era fleet
Sun Jun 19, 2011 10:51am EDT

By Suadad al-Salhy

BAGHDAD, June 19 (Reuters) - State-owned Iraqi Airways is offering one of its old Boeing jetliners for sale as scrap as it continues to sell off remnants of a decades-old fleet moved to neighbouring countries after Iraq's 1990 invasion of Kuwait.

The 737-200, parked for years at Queen Alia International Airport in Amman, Jordan, had been used by Saddam Hussein's government to transport VIPs, according to the Iraqi Airways website.

"This is one of the old aircraft which cannot be returned to service," said Nasir al-Amiri, an adviser to Iraq's transportation minister. "There were six aircraft (in Jordan). We sold five and this is the last one."

"This is not a part of fleet modernization. It's an old airplane and to get it back would cost huge amounts of money," Amiri said.

Iraq was largely shut off from the world after Saddam's troops invaded Kuwait in 1990, triggering U.N. sanctions.

Thirteen Boeing 707, 727 and 737 aircraft were sent by Hussein's government to Jordan, Tunisia and Iran to keep them safe from alliance airstrikes after the start of the war to liberate Kuwait, officials said.

Economic sanctions, political disputes and other factors prevented Iraq from maintaining or retrieving the aircraft. In some cases they were held due to compensation issues related to the Kuwait invasion and the Iran-Iraq war.

Iraq is getting back on the international air traffic map after years of violence as the prospect of multibillion-dollar oil deals lures business travellers.

But Baghdad and Kuwait have been locked in a long-running dispute over billions of dollars in reparations, including some $1.2 billion related to aircraft and parts seized during Saddam's invasion.

Iraq's government said last year it would dissolve Iraqi Airways within three years to dodge asset claims by Kuwait, whose national airline has pursued court judgements against Iraqi Airways.

Last month Kuwait seized the Iraqi Airways office in Amman after obtaining a court ruling there, Iraqi officials said.

"There is no relation between the sale of these planes and the problem with Kuwait Airways. Our technical teams confirmed that there is no economic feasibility of maintaining the aircraft or returning them to Iraq," said Salman al-Behadli, a deputy of the transportation minister.

Amiri said Iraq had sold the Boeing jets in Tunis and five of those in Jordan but five remain in Tehran. Behadli said Iraq is negotiating with Tehran over the planes but had not yet reached a political agreement that would allow them to be sold.

[asif iqbal]

I really think at this point and time Kuwait should show more maturity, let Iraq re-build and make thier country strong for a good economy then if they want they can have thier money back if they are so desperate, Iraq right now needs all the help it can get, its seen a glimer of hope give them a chance

[makaay31]

First Turkish Airlines lands in Basra
6/28/2011 7:02 PM


BASRA / Aswat al-Iraq: The first Turkish Airlines plane landed today in Basra airport within a program to organize flights between the two countries, Basra's Airport director announced today.

Director Abdul Ghanim told Aswat al-Iraq that the plane carried 75 passengers, including the Turkish ambassador to Baghdad and head of the Turkish airlines.

The Turkish airlines will make three trips per week, in addition to its trips to Baghdad and Arbil.

Basra lies 590 km south of the capital, Baghdad.


RM (TS)/SR

[elusive]

nice!

[makaay31]

yeah and TK will start flying to najaf too, from the 5th of july

[Persi]

Great news, thanks makaay31

[makaay31]

no probs bro

[Persi]

Cyprus Airways to Fly to Erbil

Posted on 30 June 2011.

Cyprus Airways has added two new Middle Eastern destinations to its schedule, with flights to Erbil in Northern Iraq starting on 4th July, and flights to the Iranian capital Tehran starting on 7th July.

At Erbil the first four flights will be chartered and will operate with a frequency of one per week, but the expectation is to increase this frequency.

The opening of this new service is the result of cooperation between Cyprus Airways with the tourist agency MERJAN, which is among the largest in Northern Iraq.

Both destinations are completely new to the Cypriot market, which should have a positive impact on tourism

[makaay31]

Turkey and Iraq Sign Agreement for New Air Routes
Posted on 02 July 2011

Turkish and Iraqi civil aviation authorities have signed a cooperation agreement increasing the number of flights and launching new flight destinations between the two countries, according to Business Turkey Today.

Within the framework of the agreement, Turkish airline companies will operate flights from Istanbul, Ankara and Antalya to the Iraqi cities of Baghdad and Irbil. They will also launch flights from a Turkish destination of their choice to Iraq’s Basra, Najaf, Sulaymaniyah and Mosul provinces, said a written statement from Turkey’s civil aviation authority, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.

Meanwhile, Iraqi airline companies will fly from an Iraqi city of their preference to Turkish provinces of Istanbul, Ankara, Antalya, Izmir and Gaziantep, and to another destination to be determined in the future.

As part of the agreement, Turkish airline companies’ weekly flights between Istanbul and Baghdad will increase to 7, Ankara and Baghdad to 3, Antalya and Baghdad to 4 (during summer period), Istanbul and Irbil to 12, Ankara and Irbil to 3, and Antalya & Irbil to 4 (during summer period).

Furthermore, 7 flights will be conducted between various other Turkish destinations and Iraq’s Basra, Najaf and Mosul cities, as well as 8 flights with Sulaymaniyah per week.

As for Iraqi air carriers, 20 flights will be operated between an Iraqi destination to be determined and Istanbul per week, while 15 flights will be conducted with capital Ankara, 15 with Antalya, 5 with Izmir and 5 with Gaziantep.

[Persi]

First Direct Flight from Istanbul to Najaf

Posted on 06 July 2011.

Turkish Airlines operated its first direct flight from Istanbul to Najaf on Tuesday.

AKnews reports that the plane carried Turkish businessmen to the holy city. The airline will operate three flights from Istanbul to Najaf every week with plans to increase the number of flights gradually to reach 7 flights per week.

Head of Najaf provincial council Faid Kadhim Noun, said: “The operation of the flight between Istanbul and Najaf means a lot for the city because Najaf with its historical, religious and archeological aspects will be connected to Turkey and this will also mean the opening of a gateway to Europe.”

Currently, the company operates flights to three other destinations in Iraq: Baghdad, Sulaimaniyah and Erbil.

“Najaf will not be the final destination for us in Iraq, just as it was not the first,” said Turkish Airline’s director Hamit Tubcu in a joint press conference with the Turkish ambassador to Baghdad and the head of the provincial council of Najaf.

The new route is expected to increase the flow of tourists and Shia pilgrims to the city – home to the shrine of Imam Ali, Prophet Mohammed’s cousin and a figure regarded by Shia Muslims as the first Imam.

Noun used the opportunity to also call on Turkish investors and businessmen to visit Najaf to check out the investment opportunities there. Turkish businesses are having an increasing influence in Iraq, with trade between the two countries second only to Iraq’s trade with Iran.

[Persi]

Etihad to Increase Services to Erbil

Posted on 14 July 2011

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, will double its flights from Abu Dhabi to Erbil at the beginning of September. The current twice-weekly service will increase to four services per week, complementing Etihad’s daily operation to its other Iraqi destination, Baghdad.

Etihad commenced two-class Airbus A320 operations to Erbil in June 2010, and the load factor on the route surpassed 80% by May 2011. This additional capacity is aimed at meeting continuing high demand on Etihad’s Erbil flights.

James Hogan, Etihad Airways Chief Executive Officer, said,

“We are committed to building and strengthening ties in our region. With these additional flights, Etihad will offer air travellers from around the world significantly improved connection opportunities through our Abu Dhabi hub as we continue to add breadth and depth through additional frequencies on key routes across our expanding global network. We expect to see continuing strong demand on these routes, particularly from government and business travellers, as well as people from Iraq visiting family and friends around the world.“

Etihad recently commenced its cargo operations to Erbil, supplementing cargo flights to Baghdad which began in September 2008.

Etihad Airways increased the frequency of its flights to a number of key destinations within the GCC, Europe, Indian sub-continent, Africa and the Asia Pacific region at the beginning of the year.

[Basrawii]

Originally Posted by BigDreamer

Yes same thing with my family, My grandma moved back to Baghdad from London after living there close to 20 years. She moved back in 2006/2007 (during the most violent period), we begged her to wait longer, but she refused!

Reminds me of my family which came back in 2006/2007 too. We were considered crazy!