Khaberni - The Iraqi Ministry of Transport announced on Tuesday that an Aegean Airlines plane landed at Baghdad International Airport in a historic move as the first landing of a commercial European aircraft in the Iraqi capital in 35 years.
The ministry said in an official statement that this flight represents "a pivotal milestone marking a new phase of recovery and openness in the Iraqi aviation sector," referring to the transformations occurring in this vital sector after decades of stagnation and isolation.
The statement added that the flight was operated by Aegean Airlines, the Greek national carrier, to become the first European airline to run a direct flight to Baghdad in more than three decades, signaling Iraq's return to the European aviation map after a long absence.
European airlines had stopped direct flights to Baghdad since the early 1990s, against the backdrop of a series of major crises that Iraq faced, starting with the Second Gulf War, followed by widespread war and international sanctions that severely impacted air traffic and aviation connectivity.
In 2003, the American invasion of Iraq toppled Saddam Hussein's regime, marking the beginning of a bloody era during which conflicts escalated, exacerbating the country's aerial and international isolation.
However, Iraq, over the past few years, has begun to regain a significant degree of security and political stability. At the same time, the Iraqi authorities are seeking to attract foreign investment, considering it a fundamental pillar to support the national economy and reintegrate the country into its regional and international surroundings.
In this context, Maitham Al-Safi, spokesperson for the Iraqi Ministry of Transport, told Agence France-Presse that this flight represents "the first scheduled direct flight between Europe and Iraq in 35 years," indicating that "Iraq today is witnessing significant stability," which encouraged the resumption of this type of flights.
According to the Ministry of Transport, there are plans to operate two weekly flights on the Baghdad-Athens-Baghdad route, with the possibility of increasing the number of flights in the future depending on demand rates and passenger traffic.
The Greek company had started a few months ago operating flights to Erbil, the capital of the Iraqi Kurdistan Region, which has been presenting itself as an oasis of relative stability in the country for years, paving the way for expanding their flights to Baghdad.
