Europe flies back to Baghdad after 35 years

For the first time in more than three decades, a European airline has landed at Baghdad International Airport. On Tuesday, a flight operated by Greece’s Aegean Airlines touched down in the Iraqi capital, becoming the first EU carrier to do so in 35 years, according to Iraq’s transport ministry.

In a statement announcing the arrival, the ministry said the landing signalled “Iraq’s return to the European aviation map” and marked “a new phase of recovery for Iraq’s aviation sector.”

The moment is being seen as both a confidence boost and a sign that Iraq is slowly re-opening itself to the world after decades of isolation and instability.

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So why did European flights stop coming to Baghdad in the first place?

European airlines pulled out of Baghdad in the early 1990s, when Iraq plunged into international conflict after its long-time ruler Saddam Hussein invaded neighbouring Kuwait.

The invasion triggered the Gulf War, sweeping sanctions, and a sharp deterioration in security, making commercial aviation operations risky and largely unviable.

Although Saddam Hussein was later toppled in the 2003 US-led invasion, the situation did not stabilise quickly. Instead, Iraq was hit by years of civil war, sectarian violence, and insurgency.

Armed jihadist groups emerged, attacks were frequent, and airport security remained a major concern. For European carriers, direct flights to Baghdad were simply too dangerous, and the bans and restrictions stayed in place for decades.

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That long pause is now beginning to ease. After years of turmoil, Iraq has recently shown signs of improved stability, particularly in major cities. The government has been pushing to restore international confidence, hoping to attract foreign investment and revive an economy battered by conflict and sanctions.

As part of that effort, the new Baghdad–Athens–Baghdad route will operate two flights a week, with the possibility of adding more services depending on demand, the transport ministry said.

The move follows earlier steps by Aegean Airlines, which began flying to Erbil earlier this year. The northern Kurdish capital has long marketed itself as a relatively safer and more stable part of Iraq.