Iraq given boost in plan to lift European flight ban

Anna Zvereva/Wikimedia Commons

• Air transport body supports Iraq
• Contract signed with IATA
• Next step is corrective action plan

Iraq has moved a step closer to returning its flag carrier to European skies after receiving the support of the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

Iraqi Airways was originally banned from Europe in 1991 due to safety concerns. Restrictions were briefly lifted in 2009 but enforced again in 2015 as the airline failed to meet safety standards set out by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

A “consultative and executive contract” was signed this week with IATA, according to the country’s Ministry of Transport, to help meet strict requirements set out by the aviation body and the ICAO.

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“The terms of the contract will be implemented within a month of the signing,” a statement from the ministry said.

This will be followed by the signing of a Corrective Action Plan, which is deemed “crucial for meeting the requirements to lift the European ban within specific time frames,” the statement added.

“This step, which comes in the context of obtaining the IOSA [International Operational Safety Audit] certificate and the Third Country Operator – TCO certificate – will contribute to raising the level of safety performance in the company and paving the way for the return of its membership again in Iata.”

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John Grant, partner at UK consultancy Midas Aviation and AGBI columnist, cautioned that measures to lift the ban can take some time.

“Such processes can be lengthy, requiring a series of audits and subsequent re-audits. But it is a step in the right direction securing the support of a trade association with experience in this area,” he said.

Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani, the Iraqi prime minister, confirmed earlier this year that lifting the ban was one of his government’s top priorities.

Earlier this month, Iraqi Airways resumed direct flights from Baghdad to Beijing, ending a hiatus that lasted several years.

Iraqi Airways is seeking to expand its international reach. The airline has been working to modernise its fleet and improve its service standards, aiming to position itself as an important player in the regional aviation market. It currently leases aircraft from a European operator to fly to Germany and the UK.

Established in 1945, it is one of the oldest airlines in the Middle East. The carrier has faced numerous challenges over the decades arising from conflict and instability in Iraq and economic sanctions.