Iraqi Airways flies again after 14 years

Iraqi Airways resumed international flights with a plane taking off today from neighbouring Jordan.

It was the state airline’s first such flight since 1990 when United Nations sanctions were imposed on Saddam Hussein’s regime.

The flight from Amman to Baghdad “left earlier today and we expect another one to fly from Baghdad to the Syrian capital later in the day,” said an airline spokesman.

“This is the start of regular flights by Iraqi Airways,” he added.

As of today, Iraqi Airways will fly once daily to Amman and Damascus, he said. Another route to the United Arab Emirates will be added to the airline schedule at a later stage.

Today’s Iraqi Boeing 737, flight number IA164, left Amman’s Queen Alia International Airport at 8.30am (4.30am Irish time) bound for Baghdad Airport.

The spokesman declined to say how many passengers were on board.