EgyptAir Re-launches Iraq Service After 21 years

EgyptAir, the flag carrier of the Arab Republic of Egypt, recently announced that it will be re-launching its flight services to Iraq from July 16, 2011.

EgyptAir, which is among Africa’s largest airlines, said that the flight services to Iraq are being resumed after a long gap of 21 years. The airline had stopped its flights to Iraq after the invasion of Kuwait by that country in 1990.

Chairman of EgyptAir Hussein Massoud said that the airline will be operating four-flights-a-week to Baghdad and 3 flights to Erbil in north Iraq.

The airline will deploy Airbus A320 on the Baghdad route. The airline will operate flights to Iraqi capital on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Flight services to Erbil will begin from July 18, 2011, and will be operated three-times-a-week on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays.

Erbil is 4th largest city in Iraq, following Baghdad, Basra and Mosul. Erbil city, which is in north of Iraq, is considered by most people to be the oldest continuously-inhabited city in the world.

The EgyptAir is aiming to connect Iraq through Cairo hub with North America and Europe, and seeking to create new markets.

The famed World Travel Awards has nominated EgyptAir as Africa’s Leading Airline.

This year, new flight services to Iraq were also launched by Emirates and Austrian Airlines.

EgyptAir, Egypt’s national carrier, is also a member of leading global airline alliance Star Alliance. The airline is currently operating freight and scheduled passenger services to above 75 destinations in the Americas, Europe, Asia, Middle East and Africa.