“The opening of European airspace to Iraqi Airways has made good steps and they are now in the process of eliminating shortcomings and implementing the conditions,” transportation ministry spokesperson Maytham al-Safi told Rudaw.
Safi said that Baghdad is cooperating with the International Air Transportation Association (IATA) to meet its standards and resolve shortcomings.
One of the oldest airlines in the Middle East, Iraqi Airways, has been prohibited from operating in European Union airspace over safety violations since 2015. Iraq has sought to lift the ban by meeting with EU officials.
Iraqi Airways has a poor reputation and has been stained by scandals in the past. In 2020, the Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority (ICAA) suspended a pilot after he allowed a female model to enter the cockpit mid-flight. In July 2018, two Iraqi pilots got into a physical fight over dinner while flying a Boeing 737 with 160 passengers on board.
In August 2023, Iraqi Airways apologized after a bear escaped from a crate in the cargo hold, delaying a flight from Dubai to Baghdad.
