ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Traffic at Kurdistan Region’s Ibrahim Khalil border crossing with Turkey has increased by around 30 percent, authorities said on Sunday, as thousands of travelers turn to overland routes following more than a month of suspended flights across the region.
According to data provided by border authorities, daily crossings have risen from between 7,000 and 9,000 travelers to more than 11,000, making the crossing the primary exit point for those seeking to return to their home countries.
The surge comes after the closure of regional airspace and the halt of flights at airports in Erbil and Baghdad, forcing travelers to rely on land routes. The ongoing US-Israel war against Iran has also disrupted flights in the region.
Omar Shams and Muadh Ashour, two tourists from the United Arab Emirates, said they had spent over a month traveling across the Kurdistan Region and other parts of Iraq before their plans were disrupted by the suspension of flights.
“I came from the UAE and we are heading to Turkey. God willing, we will arrive there,” Shams said. “The route was very long—we spent nearly two and a half days traveling overland. But when we reached the Kurdistan Region, we felt relieved. The procedures here were very smooth and the services were good.”
Ashour said they had hoped to stay longer in Zakho but were forced to leave due to time constraints. “It took us nearly two and a half to three days to get here. We would have liked to stay longer in Zakho because it is a very beautiful city, but we are in a hurry to reach Turkey,” he said.
While the disruptions have caused inconvenience for travelers, they have boosted activity for transport workers. Taxi and bus drivers operating at the border say demand has increased significantly.
“After the airports closed, work changed a lot,” said Bahlul Ahmed, a taxi driver at the crossing. “Before, we made two trips per month, but now we make two to three trips depending on the number of travelers. Many of our passengers are people who previously traveled through Erbil and Baghdad airports.”
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