Iraq, Saudi Arabia Resume Air Traffic After 27-Year Halt

Riyadh and Baghdad have moved toward the restoration of bilateral relations, which were left in a poor condition after the Saddam Hussein regime ordered the invasion of Kuwait in 1990.

CAIRO (Sputnik) — The Iraqi Transport Ministry announced Wednesday that Iraq and Saudi Arabia resumed air traffic after the first plane of the Saudi airliner Flynas airlines landed at Baghdad airport.

Iraqi Transport Minister Kazem Finjan and Saudi diplomatic staff in Baghdad welcomed the aircraft at the airport.

VIDEO: @Flynas becomes the first #Saudi airline to fly to #Iraq in 27 years. (tickets were sold for SAR 27/USD 7.20) pic.twitter.com/sTvzmaU9EM

— محمد بن خالد (@MbKS15) October 18, 2017

انطلقت اليوم أولى رحلاتنا من الرياض إلى بغداد 🇮🇶✈️✈️#طيران_ناس pic.twitter.com/kMG3dXs8CQ

— flynas طيران ناس (@flynas) October 18, 2017

Flynas is expected to carry out flights to different Iraqi regions.

According to the ministry, Iraq is open for cooperation with all states and, first of all, with neighboring countries.

The civil air traffic in Iraq was suspended after the invasion of Kuwait by the Saddam Hussein regime in the 1990s. However, over the years some countries resumed flights with Turkey making the step in 2008 and the Europen Union in 2010.