Iran
An Iran Air Airbus A321 arrives at Tehran’s Mehrabad Airport on January 12, 2017. File photo: AFP
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Flights between Iran and Iraq have begun to resume after nearly two months of disruption, marking a gradual return to normal air travel following the fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran, which came into effect on April 8.
The first flight from the Islamic Republic of Iran to Iraq was conducted on Sunday, ending a 59-day suspension. Maytham al-Safi, spokesperson for the Iraqi transportation ministry, told Rudaw on Sunday: "Today, the first flight from the airport in Tehran, the capital of the Islamic Republic of Iran, to Najaf Airport was conducted after a 59-day suspension."
The resumption follows weeks of disruption triggered by the US and Israeli military campaign against Iran, which forced the regional countries, including Iran and Iraq to close their airspace on February 28.
In Iraq, flights only resumed in early April after the country reopened its skies following around 40 days of closure during the conflict. Iraq had been caught in the crossfire of the war, facing repeated drone and missile attacks that halted a key international transit corridor and forced travelers to rely on land routes until a fragile ceasefire between Washington and Tehran was reached.
Safi said Sunday's flight was operated by Iran Air, adding that further services are expected to follow. "On Monday, April 27, Meraj Airlines - another Iranian carrier - is scheduled to resume its flights from Mashhad to Najaf and vice versa," he noted.
Iranian authorities have also announced the gradual restoration of domestic flights. Mojtaba Bayati, director general of Kermanshah International Airport, said Sunday: "With the reopening of the airspace in the central and western regions of the country, the province's skies will be open to flights and the situation will return to normal." He added: "The first flight between Tehran and Kermanshah and vice versa will be conducted on Monday, April 27, via Qeshm Air."
In Urmia, West Azerbaijan province, airport officials confirmed similar steps. Azim Tahmasebi, director general of airports for the province, stated that Tehran-Urmia-Tehran routes would resume on April 27. "The flights will be operated by Iran Airtour. The plane will depart Tehran for Urmia at 07:30 am, and the return flight from Urmia to Tehran will take place at 09:30 am the same day," he said.
Flights across Iran had been suspended since February 28 due to the war, which disrupted aviation and broader regional connectivity.
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