New Privately-Owned Iraqi Airline
A new privately-owned Iraqi airline carrier is expected to start international flights by July.
Deputy Transport Minister Bangen Rekani told Bloomberg that*FlyBaghdad, owned by Iraqi investors, will operate two Airbus Group NV A320 narrow-body planes and a Bombardier Inc. CRJ-200 regional jet. Start-up costs of are estimated at $25 million to $30 million (30-36 billion Iraqi dinars), and the airline is expected to make a profit in its first year.
Airlines including Qatar Airways, Emirates and*Etihad Airways have suspended flights to cities such as Baghdad and Erbil due to security concerns.
“Local carriers are making up for the gap left by the international ones,” the Deputy Minister added. “Travel in Iraq depends on security — if the situation improves the number of passengers will increase significantly.”
Iraqi Airways currently operates a fleet of about 30 aircraft. The country’s six airports are also served by four other small privately-owned carriers: Al Naser Airlines, ZagrosJet, Bawabat Al Iraq, and Al Burhan Airways.
Iraq is also studying the feasibility of setting up a low-cost airline and experts from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) are assessing the market, the Rekani said.
(Source: Bloomberg)
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A new privately-owned Iraqi airline carrier is expected to start international flights by July.
Deputy Transport Minister Bangen Rekani told Bloomberg that*FlyBaghdad, owned by Iraqi investors, will operate two Airbus Group NV A320 narrow-body planes and a Bombardier Inc. CRJ-200 regional jet. Start-up costs of are estimated at $25 million to $30 million (30-36 billion Iraqi dinars), and the airline is expected to make a profit in its first year.
Airlines including Qatar Airways, Emirates and*Etihad Airways have suspended flights to cities such as Baghdad and Erbil due to security concerns.
“Local carriers are making up for the gap left by the international ones,” the Deputy Minister added. “Travel in Iraq depends on security — if the situation improves the number of passengers will increase significantly.”
Iraqi Airways currently operates a fleet of about 30 aircraft. The country’s six airports are also served by four other small privately-owned carriers: Al Naser Airlines, ZagrosJet, Bawabat Al Iraq, and Al Burhan Airways.
Iraq is also studying the feasibility of setting up a low-cost airline and experts from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) are assessing the market, the Rekani said.
(Source: Bloomberg)
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