Iraq opens part of its airspace to civilian flights — Asharq Al-Awsat
Iraq has opened part of its airspace to civil aviation that had been reserved for military operations against the Islamic State group for about ten years. The zones will also be available to aircraft transiting through the country, Asharq Al-Awsat reports.
Zones in western Iraq
According to Iraq's airport management company, the sections of airspace designated for military operations are no longer used for that purpose and have been prepared for civilian traffic. They cover areas in western Iraq, from the northern parts of Nineveh province to the southern part of the desert in Anbar province.
Previously, these areas were primarily used for flights by the international coalition that fought against the Islamic State group, as well as by the Iraqi Air Force. The country began closing these zones in late 2016.
Airport management company director Ihab Karim said the airspace had been transferred to the General Company for Airports and Air Navigation Management for civilian use. According to him, this will make it possible to update Iraq's aeronautical information publication and provide it to international airlines.
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New routes and transit fees
Karim said returning these zones to civil aviation will create more opportunities for establishing new routes, organizing air traffic and increasing revenue. Iraqi airports, he said, are ready to provide services to domestic and international carriers after the routes are opened.
Iraq's Office of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces reported its readiness to support aviation structures after the issue of restricted zones is formally closed. It said the decision should improve airspace management, increase state revenue from transit fees and facilitate civilian air connections between continents.
European warning
Economic expert Ziyad al-Hashimi called the decision a significant change for Iraq's aviation sector. In his view, the new opportunities could reduce flight times and costs for airlines flying through Iraqi airspace, particularly carriers from Europe and Asia.
At the same time, al-Hashimi noted that the European warning regarding the use of Iraqi airspace, according to him, remains in force until the end of September. After that, in his view, Iraqi authorities will need to convince the European Union Aviation Safety Agency to allow European airlines to resume flights through Iraq and provide guarantees of route safety.
