Russia and Iraq restored scheduled commercial airline services on Sunday for the first time since 2004, in what officials hailed as a sign of stability returning to the war-torn country.
Moscow: Russia and Iraq restored scheduled commercial airline services on Sunday for the first time since 2004, in what officials hailed as a sign of stability returning to the war-torn country. [caption id=“attachment_572620” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]![Representational image of Moscow’s Vnukovo airport. Reuters]()
Representational image. Reuters[/caption] An Iraqi Airways plane left Baghdad at 10.31 am (0731 GMT) and was expected to arrive at Moscow’s Vnukovo airport at 2.19 pm (1119 GMT), according to the Russian airport’s online departure and arrival timetables. “The first commercial flight arrives today (Sunday),” Sergei Izvolsky, spokesman for Russia’s civil aviation authority, told AFP. “It is a signal on the part of the Iraqi authorities that Russian nationals can safely visit Iraq.” The two countries may also later agree on air travel to the Iraqi city of Basra, Izvolsky said. Russia suspended regular flights to Iraq in 2004 after the US-led invasion in 2003 plunged the Arab country into war.
- Home
- World
- Russia, Iraq restore commercial air travel services after 13-year freeze since 2004
 "Russia, Iraq restore commercial air travel services after 13-year freeze since 2004")
 "‘I’d love to do it’: Trump refuses to rule out third term — despite constitutional limit")
 "What is the ‘Golden Fleet’ of navy ships that Trump wants to counter China with?")
 "‘Ramayan country’: Why Trinidad and Tobago wants to build a large Ram temple")
 "How China's rare earths choke changed America's trade deals")
 "‘I’d love to do it’: Trump refuses to rule out third term — despite constitutional limit")
 "What is the ‘Golden Fleet’ of navy ships that Trump wants to counter China with?")
 "‘Ramayan country’: Why Trinidad and Tobago wants to build a large Ram temple")
 "How China's rare earths choke changed America's trade deals")
