Emirates returns to Baghdad

Sheikh Majid Al Mualla, 

divisional senior vice president Commercial Operations Centre for Emirates

Emirates Airline has announced that it will resume passenger flights to Baghdad from 17 September following their suspension in January.

The Dubai carrier and several other regional airlines stopped flights to Baghdad after a flight operated by discount carrier flydubai was struck by gunfire as it came in to land.

Emirates said in a statement that it will operate with four weekly flights to Baghdad, served by an A330-200 aircraft.

Sheikh Majid Al Mualla, divisional senior vice president Commercial Operations Centre for Emirates said: “After conducting an exhaustive safety and security review, we have decided to restart services between Dubai and Baghdad.

“Commercial air transport has been one of the cornerstones of economic development for Iraq and we want to continue to support the development of economic opportunities in Baghdad by increasing access to international markets and inward investment.”

Baghdad has been part of Emirates’ route network since 2011. The airline operates four weekly services to Erbil and a double daily service to Basra.