Latest news with #IraqiMinistryofTransport
Iraqi News
16-07-2025
- Business
- Iraqi News
Iraqi PM inaugurates Mosul International Airport
Baghdad ( – The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said in a statement on Wednesday that Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani opened Mosul International Airport in northern Iraq. Following a successful trial run in early June, the Iraqi Ministry of Transport revealed that Mosul International Airport is fully operational and open to any airlines with the appropriate licenses. The spokesperson for the Iraqi Ministry of Transport, Maitham Al-Safi, told the state-run news agency (INA) that the reopening of the airport represents a purely Iraqi accomplishment carried out under the direct supervision of the Ministry of Transport. Al-Safi stated that Iraqi Airways would be the first airline to operate flights to and from Mosul and that the ministry is willing to collaborate with other international airlines in compliance with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and Iraqi government laws. The reopening of Mosul International Airport in Nineveh province, Iraq's second most populous province, marks a significant step forward in connecting Mosul to the rest of Iraq and the globe. During his last visit to Mosul last December to check the progress made in the airport's construction, Al-Sudani ordered local authorities to open the airport on June 10 to convey a statement of resistance against terrorism. Mosul International Airport, which was previously destroyed by ISIS terrorists, is the third most important airport in Iraq, following Baghdad International Airport and Basra International Airport. December 2, 2007, marked the airport's reopening following substantial runway and facility upgrades. It was first created as a civil airport in 1990. The airport became a key military site after it was overrun by the terrorist organization ISIS in June 2014. They held it until the Iraqi army took it back on February 23, 2017. Following its liberation, Mosul International Airport underwent renovations. By November 2019, demining activities were finished, and plans for a thorough reconstruction were initiated. To complete the airport's renovation, the Iraqi government inked contracts with SEA Milan Airports and Aeroports de Paris Ingenierie in December 2020. Rehabilitating the northern Iraqi airport is considered critical for improving regional connections and assisting the local economy's revival after years of conflict.
Iraqi News
09-07-2025
- Business
- Iraqi News
10 consortiums compete to renovate Baghdad International Airport
Baghdad ( – The Iraqi Ministry of Transport has selected ten foreign consortiums to participate in the renovation of Baghdad International Airport, utilizing a public-private partnership (PPP) model. The ministry confirmed in a statement that the Request for Proposals (RFP) has been issued, with final bids expected by September 2025, the state-run news agency (INA) reported. Under a deal reached in September 2023, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, would serve as the Iraqi government's principal consultant for the renovation project. According to the deal, the IFC will serve as the main deal counselor to modernize Iraq's largest international airport and bring its amenities and security up to par with global norms. The chosen contractor would entirely fund the initiative, with no governmental contributions, through an investment of $400 million to $600 million. The initiative comprises the development of new passenger terminals with an initial capacity of nine million people per year, which may be expanded to 15 million, as well as the modernization of airfield, safety systems, and internal transportation networks. The project aligns with Iraq's 2030 Vision for Sustainable Development, which aims to involve the private sector, diversify the economy, and lessen the reliance on oil revenues.
Iraq Business
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Iraq Business
Iraq Suspends Air Traffic, Closes Airspace
By John Lee. The Iraqi Ministry of Transport has confirmed the suspension of all air traffic and the temporary closure of Iraqi airspace until further notice, citing regional security tensions and the need to safeguard civil aviation. According to a statement from the Ministry's Media Office, the General Company for Air Navigation Services began a phased clearing of Iraqi airspace early this morning, suspending all inbound, outbound, and overflying flights. Iraqi Airways has also halted all its flights as a precautionary measure, reaffirming its commitment to passenger safety. The Ministry emphasised that the decision will remain in effect until a reassessment deems conditions safe for the resumption of operations. The decision follows Israel's attack on targets in Iran this morning, which has been condemned by the Iraqi government. (Source: Iraqi Ministry of Transport)
Iraqi News
01-06-2025
- 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
10-05-2025
- Business
- Iraqi News
Iraq: Unprecedented increase in aircraft transiting Iraqi airspace
The Iraqi Ministry of Transport – General Company for Air Navigation Services announced on Saturday a record and unprecedented increase in the number of aircraft crossing Iraqi airspace. "In a qualitative development that embodies Iraq's return to its natural position on the global air transport map, the General Company for Air Navigation Services recorded an unprecedented increase in the number of aircraft crossing Iraqi airspace, reflecting the country's transformation into a breathing lung for international air traffic," according to a statement from the Ministry - received by the Iraqi News Agency - INA. The statement added, "This progress is the result of sound strategic plans developed by the Iraqi government, headed by Muhammed S. al-Sudani, and under the direct supervision of the Minister of Transport, Razzaq Al-Saadawi, who closely followed efforts to develop air navigation and enhance its operational efficiency." The General Company for Air Navigation "has been able to develop its technical and technological capabilities in line with Iraq's geopolitical importance, as a meeting point between continents, a bridge linking East and West, and an indispensable corridor for global civil aviation traffic," highlighted the statement. "The General Company for Air Navigation Services has achieved a qualitative leap in the number of overflight flights, as the daily average increased from 300 to 350, then to 450, then to 550 and 600, currently reaching more than 700 flights per day, a clear indication of the growing international confidence in Iraqi airspace." The statement also noted that "expectations indicate that this growth will continue as a result of ongoing development steps." "The mobilization of the company's human and technical crews enabled the management of this unprecedented volume of air traffic with high efficiency and extreme precision, as Iraqi air traffic controllers demonstrated professional skills that rival the best international systems, approving the national readiness to deal with the changing challenges in the international aviation space," said the Director General of Air Navigation, Abbas Al-Baydani. He pointed out that "Many European airlines, most notably Air France, have chosen Iraqi airspace as a primary corridor for their flights, taking advantage of Iraq's central location and reliability. Its air traffic control services have proven highly efficient." "The General Air Navigation Company continues to implement its plans to develop navigation services, in coordination with the International Civil Aviation Organization - ICAO, and to work on modernizing takeoff and landing systems at most Iraqi airports, in addition to enhancing the use of civilian airspace. It is a scientific indicator of the growing operational attractiveness of Iraqi airspace to major international airlines," he added. He stated that "in a calculated scientific move, the company expanded civilian airspace at the expense of military airspace, providing wider and safer routes for aircraft and accommodating the increased flow of overflights. Experts described this as a "qualitative shift in airspace management according to the highest standards of joint use."
