A Greek airline is set to commence direct flights to Baghdad before the end of the year, as announced by Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis during his recent visit to Iraq. Aegean Airlines will operate its inaugural flight from Athens to Baghdad on 16 December. Notably, there are currently no other European airlines providing direct flights to the Iraqi capital.
Minister Gerapetritis, who met with Fuad Hussein, Iraq’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, emphasised that this new service is expected to significantly enhance people-to-people connections and bolster both economic and cultural ties between Greece and Iraq.
While Aegean Airlines and a limited number of other carriers have established direct flights to Irbil, the capital of Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdish region, airlines have often avoided Baghdad due to security concerns.
The security situation has improved noticeably since the fall of Saddam Hussein in the 2003 U.S.-led invasion, which was followed by years of sectarian violence and the emergence of extremist groups, including the Islamic State. However, stability in the region has increased since ISIS lost control of the territories in Iraq and Syria.
In response to the announcement of direct flights, Minister Fuad Hussein welcomed the development and indicated that both countries are engaged in discussions regarding cooperation in agriculture, investment, and tourism. He also noted that recent visits by European leaders to Iraq reflect the country’s current stability and its growing prominence on the international stage. Furthermore, plans are underway to upgrade Baghdad’s international airport, with Iraq recently awarding a $764 million contract to a global consortium comprising Corporación América Airport, a Luxembourg-based operator, and Amwaj International, an Iraqi investment company.
This article used information from The Associated Press
