Latest news with #IraqiAirways
Iraqi News
a day ago
- Iraqi News
Iraqi Airways transports over 17,000 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for Hajj
Baghdad ( – Iraqi Airways has successfully transported more than 17,000 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for the 2025 Hajj season, operating 105 direct flights from various airports across Iraq. The flights, which commenced on May 8 and concluded on May 28, were conducted under the supervision of Iraq's Minister of Transport, Razzaq Muhaibis Al-Saadawi. Flights arrived at Saudi Arabia's King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah, a major hub equipped with a dedicated Hajj Terminal designed to handle the influx of pilgrims during the season. The airport is located approximately 1.5 hours by road from Makkah, facilitating onward travel for the pilgrims. The airline operated five to six daily flights during the peak period, coordinating closely with the Ministry of Transport and the Supreme Commission for Hajj and Umrah to ensure safety, and comfort for all pilgrims.
Iraqi News
2 days ago
- Business
- Iraqi News
Iraqi Airways to add 31 new aircraft by 2027
Baghdad ( – The Iraqi Ministry of Transport disclosed a plan on Saturday to expand Iraqi Airways' fleet by purchasing new aircraft. In a statement to the Iraqi News Agency (INA), the spokesperson of the Iraqi Transport Ministry, Maitham Al-Safi, explained that the ministry has developed a comprehensive plan to increase the number of aircraft through deals with major manufacturers. Iraqi Airways has received 13 aircraft, expanding the national carrier's air fleet, according to Al-Safi. Al-Safi illustrated that the aircraft Iraqi Airways received include five Airbus A220s, six Boeing 737 Max aircraft, and two B787-8s, known as Dreamliners. The Iraqi official stated that eight additional Dreamliners and 10 Max aircraft will be delivered, increasing the total number of modern aircraft purchased by Iraqi Airways to 31 by 2027. Al-Safi stated that Iraqi Airways has successfully returned 14 of the 24 grounded aircraft to operational status, emphasizing that the restoration of the remaining grounded aircraft is proceeding according to a set plan. Al-Safi added that Iraqi Airways currently owns 39 aircraft.
Iraqi News
3 days ago
- Business
- Iraqi News
Culture Minister announces price reductions to support tourism
Baghdad-INA Minister of Culture, Tourism, and Antiquities Ahmed Fakak al-Badrani announced on Saturday that the ministry has provided numerous facilities to support tourism in Iraq, including reduced transportation, hotel, and restaurant fares, he also noted that tourism has witnessed a significant boom during the current government's tenure. Al-Badrani told the Iraqi News Agency (INA), "The Ministry of Culture has a large and busy program under the patronage of the Prime Minister, and activities are ongoing to improve the reality of tourism, restore many antiquities, open many tourist cities, and open hotels in cooperation with Iraqi Airways in order to give applicants an opportunity by reducing travel fees and agreeing with the hotels affiliated with the ministry to reduce hotel and restaurant fees as factors to attract tourism." He pointed out that "tourism has witnessed a significant renaissance during the current government's term, and our ambition is even greater for tourism to become a permanent and sustainable resource that provides significant sums to the Iraqi budget, given the presence of a large and diverse tourism attraction." He added, "Iraq attracts Arab, Western, and European tourists for archaeological, recreational, and therapeutic tourism, such as the sulfur springs in Anbar, Mosul, and Karbala, as well as religious tourism in cities such as Karbala, Najaf, Baghdad, and Mosul,also in Basra are Rabia al-Adawiya, al-Hasan al-Basri, and Ibn Sirin, and in Baghdad are al-Kadhimiya, al-Nu'man, al-Junayd al-Baghdadi, and al-Saqti, as well as many other religious heritage sites. These tourism factors have prompted the government of Mohammed Shia al-Sudani to devote great attention to these sites in order to attract tourists." Al-Fakak confirmed, "We have provided many facilities to attract Arab and foreign tourists, and soon Iraqi Airways will announce a reduction in fares, now that the Arab Summit has concluded successfully, hotels will reduce prices, and many restaurants will also offer promotions, serving Baghdadi, Mosuli, Basrai and other dishes to Arab and European tourists."
Iraq Business
4 days ago
- Business
- Iraq Business
Iraqi Airways closer to Removal of EU Ban
By John Lee. Prime Minister Mohammed S. Al-Sudani chaired a key meeting with representatives from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to track progress on lifting the European Union's ban on Iraqi Airways. During the session, the IATA delegation and the Head of the Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority (ICAA) presented a detailed update, confirming that 71% of the agreed corrective action plan has been implemented. Discussions also explored the signing of a potential Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Iraq and IATA to further formalise collaboration. The review included compliance with IOSA (IATA Operational Safety Audit) and EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency) standards, with IATA affirming improved operational performance and pledging continued support through technical training to bolster aviation governance in Iraq. Topics also covered included airport security, pilot development programmes, and the importance of aligning Iraqi Airways with global aviation service standards in areas such as cargo, ground services, and fuel operations. (Source: PMO)
Iraqi News
5 days ago
- Politics
- Iraqi News
Al-Sudani chairs a meeting to discuss lifting the European ban on Iraqi Airways
Baghdad - INA Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani chaired a meeting on Thursday with representatives of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to follow up on procedures to lift the European ban on Iraqi Airways. The Prime Minister's media office said in a statement received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA): "Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani chaired a meeting with representatives of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to follow up on procedures to lift the European ban on Iraqi Airways." He added that "Al-Sudani listened to a detailed explanation from the delegation representative and the head of the Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority about the latest developments in this file, which included the completion of 71% of the corrective plan established during previous meetings, as well as discussions regarding the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Iraq and IATA." He continued, "During the meeting, the status of aviation safety was reviewed in accordance with the International Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) standards for this matter and the European Safety Agency (EASA). IATA also emphasized the provision of technical training courses to enhance knowledge of aviation governance systems within Iraq, and emphasized the improvement in performance in the Air Operations Department." He explained that "the meeting addressed airport security standards. Reference was also made to the preparation of a study to develop Iraqi pilots, and efforts to achieve harmony between Iraqi Airways and air service providers related to cargo, ground services, and fuel, in addition to completing the remaining requirements."
