Emirates to resume Baghdad flights next month
ATP- Arab tourism portal- Dubai, Dubai-based airline Emirates is to resume passenger flights to Iraq s capital Baghdad from September 17, having deemed it was now safe enough to operate there for the first time since January.
"After conducting an exhaustive safety and security review, we have decided to restart services between Dubai and Baghdad," Sheikh Majid Al Mualla, Emirates’ divisional senior vice president for commercial operations said in a statement.
Emirates declined to comment on how the situation has changed.The Dubai carrier will operate with four weekly flights to Baghdad.
Emirates suspended flights to Iraq eight months ago after bullets hit an aircraft operated by budget carrier Dubai Aviation Corp, known as flydubai, as it was landing at Baghdad airport.
At least seven airlines suspended flights to Baghdad after the shooting but while most resumed operations within days Emirates did not.
Emirates resuming services leaves its neighbours, Abu Dhabi-based carrier Etihad, as the only carrier still not flying to Baghdad. A spokesman for Etihad was not immediately able to comment.
