Iraqi PM sacks head of national airline over flight delays
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani on Friday fired the head of the state-owned Iraqi Airways following the carrier’s recent flight delays stranding many international tourists.
An investigative committee, formed recently to examine disruptions in the Iraqi Airways flights, recommended the removal of the airline’s general director Manaf Abdel Moneim who took office in May last year. The prime minister approved it, his office announced late Friday.
“We reaffirm the Prime Minister's earlier directives to all service departments, underscoring the importance of delivering the highest level of service to citizens and avoiding any negligence in addressing the essential needs of the Iraqi people,” Sudani’s office said in a statement.
“The Prime Minister emphasizes that no leniency will be shown towards any neglect that could harm the reputation of state institutions that are working tirelessly to improve their operations and services across various sectors,” it added.
Baghdad International Airport was congested with passengers on August 31 as several Shiite pilgrims’ return flights were delayed. Social media users published footage purportedly showing the busy airport and altercations between frustrated passengers and the airport staff.
Iraqi Airways blamed a crew shortage for flight cancellations, adding it had been dealing with nearly 1,900 flights during over 30 days of Arbaeen “smoothly and safely, without any delays.”
Nearly 3.5 million foreign pilgrims entered Iraq for the Shiite commemoration of Arbaeen, which marks the end of a 40-day mourning period for the grandson of Prophet Mohammed, Imam Hussein, who died in a battle fought in Karbala in 680 AD. The pilgrims came from Iran, Lebanon, Turkey, and Kuwait for a symbolic 80-kilometer walk from Najaf to Karbala - both Shiite holy cities.
The national airline has a poor service reputation and has been stained by scandals in the past. In 2020, the Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority (ICAA) suspended a pilot after he allowed a female model to enter the cockpit mid-flight. In July 2018, two pilots engaged in a physical altercation over dinner while flying a Boeing 737 with 160 passengers on board. In August 2023, Iraqi Airways apologized after a bear escaped from a crate in the cargo hold, delaying a flight from Dubai to Baghdad.
An investigative committee, formed recently to examine disruptions in the Iraqi Airways flights, recommended the removal of the airline’s general director Manaf Abdel Moneim who took office in May last year. The prime minister approved it, his office announced late Friday.
“We reaffirm the Prime Minister's earlier directives to all service departments, underscoring the importance of delivering the highest level of service to citizens and avoiding any negligence in addressing the essential needs of the Iraqi people,” Sudani’s office said in a statement.
“The Prime Minister emphasizes that no leniency will be shown towards any neglect that could harm the reputation of state institutions that are working tirelessly to improve their operations and services across various sectors,” it added.
Baghdad International Airport was congested with passengers on August 31 as several Shiite pilgrims’ return flights were delayed. Social media users published footage purportedly showing the busy airport and altercations between frustrated passengers and the airport staff.
Iraqi Airways blamed a crew shortage for flight cancellations, adding it had been dealing with nearly 1,900 flights during over 30 days of Arbaeen “smoothly and safely, without any delays.”
Nearly 3.5 million foreign pilgrims entered Iraq for the Shiite commemoration of Arbaeen, which marks the end of a 40-day mourning period for the grandson of Prophet Mohammed, Imam Hussein, who died in a battle fought in Karbala in 680 AD. The pilgrims came from Iran, Lebanon, Turkey, and Kuwait for a symbolic 80-kilometer walk from Najaf to Karbala - both Shiite holy cities.
The national airline has a poor service reputation and has been stained by scandals in the past. In 2020, the Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority (ICAA) suspended a pilot after he allowed a female model to enter the cockpit mid-flight. In July 2018, two pilots engaged in a physical altercation over dinner while flying a Boeing 737 with 160 passengers on board. In August 2023, Iraqi Airways apologized after a bear escaped from a crate in the cargo hold, delaying a flight from Dubai to Baghdad.