New Iraqi airline to launch first flight to Erbil on Thursday: CEO

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Basra Airlines, a newly established Iraqi carrier, will operate its first flight to the Kurdistan Region’s capital, Erbil, on Thursday, the chairman confirmed to Rudaw.

The inaugural flight will depart from Basra and is scheduled to land at Erbil International Airport at 11:10 a.m., Basra Airlines CEO Moffak Sabir Hamad told Rudaw on Wednesday.

Basra Airlines was established in 2022 and officially received its Iraqi Air Operator Certificate (AOC) No. 011 in September last year, from the Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority (ICAA), he added.

Hamad said the airline currently operates two CRJ1000 passenger aircraft.

“Our first international flight will be to Turkey on May 20, followed by routes to other regional destinations. Flights to Europe are scheduled to begin in July,” the CEO said.