Iraq News

Iraqi Airways to resume flights to Syria

Iraq's national carrier is to resume flights to the Syrian capital for the first time since the Syrian conflict erupted in 2011, AFP reported Thursday (May 16th).

Iraqi Airways will operate a weekly service from Baghdad to Damascus starting Saturday, spokesman Layth al-Rubaie said.

Al-Rubaie said the resumption of flights between the two neighbours after an eight-year hiatus was "important", citing bilateral trade, tourism and "the size of the Iraqi community living in Syria".

Al-Rubaie said the last flight from Baghdad to Damascus took place in December 2011.

Most airlines stopped flying over Syria after the conflict broke out, with many taking longer routes to circumvent the war zone.

In April, the Syrian regime said it had agreed to allow regional aviation giant Qatar Airways to resume flights over the country.

Jordanian officials have also visited Damascus to discuss plans to reopen Syrian airspace to Royal Jordanian's commercial flights.

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