Kurdistan Region airports to stay closed to commercial passenger flights until July 22
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – Commercial passenger flights from Kurdistan Region airports are to remain suspended until July 22, the head of Erbil International Airport (EIA) has announced.
The ban will include all international and domestic flights, except for military, medical aid, and cargo flights, EIA director Talal Fayaq told a press conference on Monday.
“It is expected that flights might resume after July 22, but until this date the airports remain closed,” Fayaq said, pending an Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority (ICAA) decision on whether flights will be allowed to resume on that date.
“We have taken all the necessary measures and procedures to resume flights at Erbil International Airport, if Iraqi Civil Aviation decides to reopen the airports and resume flights,” Fayaq added.
But in view of the continued pandemic, resumption of flights after July 22 will only occur with "restrictive measures" in place, she said.
As part of measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the ICAA banned commercial passenger flights on March 17. The ban has been extended several times since.
Despite the ban, a limited number of charter flights have allowed foreign nationals to leave the country.
However, foreign nationals in the Kurdistan Region have complained of high prices preventing them from booking seats.
The ban will include all international and domestic flights, except for military, medical aid, and cargo flights, EIA director Talal Fayaq told a press conference on Monday.
“It is expected that flights might resume after July 22, but until this date the airports remain closed,” Fayaq said, pending an Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority (ICAA) decision on whether flights will be allowed to resume on that date.
“We have taken all the necessary measures and procedures to resume flights at Erbil International Airport, if Iraqi Civil Aviation decides to reopen the airports and resume flights,” Fayaq added.
But in view of the continued pandemic, resumption of flights after July 22 will only occur with "restrictive measures" in place, she said.
As part of measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the ICAA banned commercial passenger flights on March 17. The ban has been extended several times since.
Despite the ban, a limited number of charter flights have allowed foreign nationals to leave the country.
However, foreign nationals in the Kurdistan Region have complained of high prices preventing them from booking seats.