Iraq
First Qatari carrier arrives at Baghdad International Airport on May 3, 2026, following months of suspension triggered by the outbreak of the Iran war. Photo: Baghdad International Airport/Facebook
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Carriers from Iran, Qatar, and Turkey have resumed operations at Baghdad International Airport, the facility’s director noted, adding that operational capacity has risen to 90 percent after the closure of Iraqi airspace during the Iran war, especially amid daily trips carrying pilgrims for Hajj to Saudi Arabia.
Harith al-Obaidi said in a Wednesday statement that “after the resumption of Qatari flights and the return of some Iranian carriers… flight operations are witnessing a continuous increase,” while noting the resumption of Turkish flights on Thursday, May 14” as well.
On Monday, he had reported that Turkey’s main carrier, Turkish Airlines, is set to resume flights to Baghdad International Airport on Thursday, “after a suspension that lasted more than two months following the closure of Iraqi airspace in February.”
Obaidi further explained that “Baghdad International Airport has restored 90 percent of its operational capacity,” as “the number of airlines currently operating at the facility stands at around 30,” following “the return of Turkish aviation and some Iranian airlines.”
Earlier this month, Turkish Airlines announced it would “operate round-trip flights from Istanbul to Erbil International Airport starting May 8.” Days earlier, Turkish low-cost carrier Pegasus Airlines also confirmed the resumption of its flights to Erbil.
Turkish carriers, including Turkish Airlines, Pegasus, AnadoluJet, and SunExpress, suspended flights to Iraq and the Kurdistan Region in early March.
The suspension came just over a week after the United States and Israel launched a large-scale aerial campaign against Iran, triggering six weeks of hostilities before the two sides agreed to a Pakistan-mediated ceasefire on April 8.
Caught in the middle of the conflict, Iraq and the Kurdistan Region shut down their airspace in late February before reopening it around 40 days later in early April.
Moreover, as of Thursday, Iranian carriers including Iran Air, Mahan Air, Caspian Airlines, and FlySepehran have resumed scheduled flights to Baghdad, while Iran Airtour is set to resume its service to the Iraqi capital in early June.
Importantly, Obaidi reported on Thursday that participation in the ongoing Hajj season in Saudi Arabia has also contributed to the rise in air traffic, as the national carrier, Iraqi Airways, “is operating four daily flights from Baghdad International Airport to Medina Airport and other airports in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”
The annual pilgrimage holds deep religious significance as one of the Five Pillars of Islam and is a mandatory act of worship for Muslims who are physically and financially able to undertake the journey.
Hajj takes place from the 8th to the 12th of Dhu al-Hijjah in the Islamic calendar, falling in late May 2026, and requires pilgrims to arrive in advance to prepare for the physically and spiritually demanding rituals in Mecca.
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