ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Fly Erbil has obtained an Air Operator Certificate (AOC) from the Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority (ICAA), officially attaining national carrier status and paving the way for the Erbil-based airline to expand its domestic and international route network.
The certificate was presented during a ceremony at Erbil International Airport (EIA) on Sunday, attended by senior Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) officials and foreign diplomatic representatives.
“Today is a historic day; we are marking a major achievement for the city of Erbil, the Kurdistan Region, and Iraq,” Lawand Mamondy, CEO of Fly Erbil, said during the ceremony.
He stated that the airline aims to strengthen air connectivity between Erbil, other Iraqi cities, the wider region and Europe, while providing passengers with a “reliable, safe, and well-organized” service.
The acquisition of the AOC is expected to facilitate the airline's expansion into additional Iraqi cities and international destinations through direct flights.
Erbil Governor Omed Xoshnaw said the airline's achievement reflects the KRG's efforts to support the private sector, describing Fly Erbil as a potential ambassador for the city.
“Fly Erbil will become a brand and a strong bridge to further promote our city,” Xoshnaw said.
He also highlighted the airline’s potential to create job opportunities for young people and stressed the importance of having a local carrier that welcomes passengers in Kurdish.
Ahmed Hoshyar, CEO of EIA, underscored the airport's role in the company's development, describing the attainment of national carrier status as a significant milestone in its operations.
KRG Minister of Transport and Communications Ano Jawhar also praised the airline's growth, saying its success reflected Erbil's reputation and potential.
Founded in 2015, Fly Erbil operated its inaugural flight from Erbil to Stockholm, Sweden's capital, in 2018. It currently serves several destinations across Europe and the Middle East, including Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and Lebanon.
The development comes amid persistent disruptions to air travel in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region, where regional tensions between the US and Iran and repeated drone and missile attacks have prompted several international airlines to suspend their services.
In late July, Mamondy told Rudaw that Fly Erbil had continued operating daily flights to several European destinations, Turkey and the United Kingdom despite widespread suspensions by foreign carriers.
“Most foreign airlines have suspended their flights to Iraq and the Kurdistan Region,” he said at the time, noting that his airline had maintained its operations despite the security challenges.
Since the outbreak of the US-Iran war on February 28, the Kurdistan Region has experienced repeated drone and missile attacks targeting military installations, airports, energy infrastructure and camps belonging to Iranian Kurdish opposition groups. The attacks have repeatedly disrupted aviation and energy operations across the Region.
