Latest news with #Maythamal-Safi
Shafaq News
2 days ago
- Business
- Shafaq News
Iraq confirms halted flights to Syria amid high visa fees
Shafaq News/ Iraq's Ministry of Transport confirmed, on Tuesday, that civil aviation flights between Iraq and Syria remain suspended, a situation in place since the fall of the former Syrian regime. Ministry spokesperson Maytham al-Safi told Shafaq News that 'civil flights have been halted for years, and no regular services operate between the two countries. Only Cham Wings Airlines operated for a while, but those flights have also stopped.' The statement comes amid rising concerns over the recently increased visa fees imposed on Iraqi citizens traveling to Syria, which now stand at $250. Omar Abdul-Baqi, deputy director of security at Damascus International Airport, told Shafaq News that the higher fees apply not only to Iraqis but to other nationalities as well, as part of a broader Syrian policy to regulate entry and cover administrative costs.
Shafaq News
04-06-2025
- Business
- Shafaq News
EU extends ban on Iraqi Airways flights
Shafaq News/ The European Union has extended its ban on Iraqi Airways flights for another six months, maintaining the carrier's exclusion from EU airspace, an Iraqi lawmaker confirmed on Wednesday. The decision comes despite a recent announcement by the Iraqi government that 71% of its corrective action plan—aimed at meeting EU aviation safety standards—has been completed. Karwan Ali Yarwese, a member of the Parliamentary Transport and Communications Committee, linked the EU's decision to Iraq's ongoing failure to meet international aviation benchmarks, citing continued non-compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards, outdated airport infrastructure, and other unresolved safety concerns. Transport Ministry spokesperson Maytham al-Safi clarified to Shafaq News that the EU's update was part of its regular biannual review of airlines subject to airspace restrictions, emphasizing that the decision does not represent a new sanction against the national carrier. Al-Safi also noted that Iraqi Airways has made gradual progress under the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) program. Completion of the remaining corrective actions, he added, would pave the way for the airline to seek Third Country Operator (TCO) certification, a necessary step to resume operations in European airspace. Earlier this year, Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani appointed Minister of Reconstruction and Housing Benkin Rikani to lead the Civil Aviation Authority and accelerate efforts to meet EU criteria. The leadership shift coincided with the reinstatement of the former Iraqi Airways director and the signing of several aviation-related contracts aimed at regulatory improvements. Some of these agreements, however, are now under formal review. Iraq's Integrity Commission, along with several members of parliament, has opened investigations into multiple contracts, citing concerns over possible irregularities and a lack of transparency. The EU first imposed a flight ban on Iraqi Airways in 1991 following Iraq's invasion of Kuwait and the imposition of international sanctions. Although the restrictions were lifted in 2009, they were reinstated in 2015 due to ongoing breaches of aviation safety standards.
Rudaw Net
16-03-2025
- Business
- Rudaw Net
Iraq to finish phase one of Faw port project this year: Ministry
Also in Iraq Iraq first globally in number of palm trees Iraq begins 14 reconstruction projects in Shingal, Nineveh Sudani, Macron discuss visit to Baghdad Wife of ISIS second-in-command captured: CENTCOM A+ A- ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraq is set to complete the first phase of the Grand Faw Port project by the end of this year, the transportation ministry said on Sunday, with the port set to be the largest in the Gulf. 'The first phase of the Grand Faw Port will be completed by the end of this year,' ministry spokesperson Maytham al-Safi told Rudaw. The Iraqi government has partnered with the South Korean Daewoo E&C to build the port, which is set to cost an estimated $4.83 billion. Al-Faw is located south of Umm Qasr, Iraq's main seaport. The new port will be deeper than Qasr to allow large container ships to dock in its harbor. 'The area of the Grand Faw Port is 54 square kilometers – the largest port in the Middle East,' Safi said. After the project's completion, the port will be connected to the port of Mersin in Turkey by land, therefore greatly reducing the time needed to transport goods between the Gulf nations and Turkey. It will serve as the southern terminal of the Development Road project, which is planned from southern Iraq to the Turkish border, connecting the Persian Gulf with Turkey. It aims to enhance Iraq's geopolitical position, boost the economy, and create thousands of job opportunities. The route is expected to link Iraq with the European Union via Turkey. The Faw port project has faced many obstacles since the foundation stone was laid in 2010 due to successive conflicts in the country. Nahro Mohammed contributed to this report.
