Iraqi Airways

Iraqi Airways, formally Iraqi Airways Company, is the national flag carrier of Iraq. It is headquartered at Baghdad International Airport and operates under the Iraqi state. The airline's business is centered on scheduled passenger services within Iraq and to destinations in the Middle East, Europe and selected Asian markets, with additional seasonal services associated with religious pilgrimage traffic. Its principal base is Baghdad, while other Iraqi cities, including Basra, Erbil and Sulaymaniyah, have also been important points in its network. The carrier was established in 1945 as a department of Iraqi State Railways and began flying on 28 January 1946. Its first aircraft were five de Havilland Dragon Rapides, initially serving Syria. During its formative years, the airline received technical and fleet assistance from British Overseas Airways Corporation, leased Douglas DC-3s and introduced de Havilland Dove and Vickers Viking aircraft. It became operationally separate from the railway organization in 1960. During the 1950s and 1960s, Iraqi Airways moved from piston-powered aircraft to turboprops and then jets. Vickers Viscounts supported international growth, while later acquisitions and leases included Tupolev, Hawker Siddeley Trident, Boeing 707 and Boeing 747 aircraft. In the 1970s, the airline expanded its reach toward Europe, Africa and North America. As a state carrier under the Ba'athist government, it also benefited from regulated or subsidized fares. The Iran-Iraq War, the Gulf War and the subsequent international sanctions severely disrupted the airline. International operations were curtailed, aircraft were lost or damaged, and no-fly restrictions limited domestic aviation. Limited services resumed after the Gulf War, but were suspended or constrained by United Nations decisions and the airspace restrictions imposed during the 1990s. The carrier continued to operate occasional pilgrimage flights during this period. After the 2003 Iraq War, Iraqi Airways announced a reconstruction and international relaunch. A new company structure was used to continue operations while attempting to separate the postwar airline from legal claims connected with the former Iraqi regime. Scheduled service restarted on 3 October 2004 with a Baghdad-Amman flight. Domestic services resumed in 2005, followed by renewed links to Iran and other regional markets. European expansion was attempted through wet leases and partner operators, including services operated on the airline's behalf by foreign carriers. Fleet renewal became a central part of the carrier's modernization program. The airline placed major orders and proposals involving Boeing 737-800, Boeing 777, Boeing 787, Airbus A330 and Bombardier CRJ aircraft. The first Boeing 737-800 delivered directly by Boeing arrived in 2013. These plans were intended to replace an older and diverse fleet and support the restoration of longer-range international services, although delivery schedules, financing, legal disputes and operating restrictions affected implementation. Iraqi Airways has also faced significant legal and diplomatic difficulties. Kuwait Airways pursued claims relating to aircraft and other assets taken during Iraq's 1990 invasion of Kuwait. A 2010 incident surrounding the attempted launch of Baghdad-London service led to the seizure of documents and an aircraft-related legal confrontation in the United Kingdom. Iraq and Kuwait Airways later reached a settlement in 2009 under which Iraq agreed to pay compensation. These disputes contributed to periodic proposals to dissolve or restructure Iraqi Airways, but the carrier continued operating. In the contemporary period, Iraqi Airways remains an important symbol of Iraqi state presence and national connectivity. It has restored or attempted to restore services to cities such as London, Frankfurt, Düsseldorf, Bahrain, Doha, Karachi, Damascus and destinations in Sweden, while network availability has varied with security conditions and regulatory permissions. The airline generally does not serve alcoholic beverages. Its history includes several serious accidents and hijackings, the last fatal accident occurring in 1986, as well as more recent non-fatal operational incidents involving aircraft damage and bird strikes.

Iraqi Airways was founded in 1945 as part of Iraqi State Railways and began commercial flying on 28 January 1946. Its initial fleet consisted of five de Havilland Dragon Rapides, with Syria among its first international destinations. Assistance from British Overseas Airways Corporation supported early fleet development. The airline leased Douglas DC-3 aircraft in 1946, introduced de Havilland Dove aircraft in 1947 and acquired Vickers Vikings later that year. In the 1950s it selected Vickers Viscount turboprops, which entered service in 1955 and enabled longer international routes, including service to London with intermediate stops. Iraqi Airways became separate from the railway organization on 1 April 1960. The airline entered the jet age during the 1960s. It operated Soviet-built Tupolev aircraft and Hawker Siddeley Tridents, expanding its Middle Eastern, African and European network. In the 1970s, Boeing 707 and Boeing 747 aircraft supported ambitions for longer-range operations, including service to New York. State subsidies helped maintain low fares during the Ba'athist period, while the carrier also operated cargo aircraft such as the Ilyushin Il-76. Wars and sanctions then severely reduced the airline's activity. The Iran-Iraq War caused aircraft losses and operational disruption. Following the Gulf War, the United Nations permitted limited domestic helicopter activity and a brief return of fixed-wing domestic flights, including Baghdad-Basra service in January 1992. Those operations were suspended after further United Nations decisions. No-fly zones imposed over Iraq during the 1990s made regular domestic aviation difficult, although occasional pilgrimage flights continued. After the 2003 Iraq War, Iraqi Airways announced an international restart and adopted a new company structure intended to protect continuing operations from claims linked to the former Iraqi regime. The first postwar scheduled international flight operated from Baghdad to Amman on 3 October 2004. Domestic scheduled service returned in 2005, when Baghdad-Basra flights resumed, followed by flights to Tehran and northern Iraqi cities. The airline gradually re-established links with regional and European destinations, sometimes using wet-leased aircraft or foreign operators. The attempted restoration of direct United Kingdom service exposed the airline to continuing legal complications. Kuwait Airways pursued claims over aircraft and property associated with Iraq's invasion of Kuwait. In April 2010, the launch of a Baghdad-London Gatwick service through Malmö became the subject of proceedings in the United Kingdom. Earlier settlement arrangements between Iraq and Kuwait Airways included an agreement for Iraq to pay compensation, but the dispute influenced Iraqi discussions about dissolution or restructuring. Iraqi Airways nevertheless continued to operate. Fleet renewal has been a recurring strategic priority since the late 2000s. Orders and proposals covered Boeing 737-800s, Boeing 777s, Boeing 787s, Airbus A330s and Bombardier CRJ-900ERs. The first CRJ-900ER arrived in 2008, and a Boeing 737-800 was delivered directly from Boeing in 2013. Delivery plans were modified over time as the airline adjusted its wide-body requirements and financing arrangements. The carrier also introduced a new green livery in 2012. Network development has remained sensitive to security, regulatory and diplomatic conditions. Iraqi Airways resumed or launched services to destinations including Bahrain, Doha, Karachi, Jeddah, Sweden, Germany and Damascus at different points. Flights to Mosul were suspended in 2014 after ISIL captured the city. In the late 2010s, the airline sought European wet-lease partners with appropriate operating certificates to support routes between Iraq and Europe. The airline's safety history includes several accidents, hijackings and wartime losses. Its last fatal accident was Iraqi Airways Flight 163 in December 1986, which crashed in Saudi Arabia during a hijacking attempt. Later incidents have generally been non-fatal, including a windshield crack on an Airbus A320 in 2019, a bird strike involving a Boeing 737-800 in 2023 and ground damage to a Boeing 737 MAX 8 later in 2023. Iraqi Airways remains Iraq's state national carrier, with Baghdad as its principal base and a continuing role in domestic, regional and international connectivity.

• 2013

  First direct Boeing 737-800 delivery

  [1]Iraqi Airwaysen.wikipedia.org

  The airline receives its first Boeing 737-800 directly from Boeing.

• 2004

  Postwar international restart

  [1]Iraqi Airwaysen.wikipedia.org

  Scheduled operations resume with service between Baghdad and Amman.

• 1986

  Flight 163 crashes after hijacking attempt

  [1]Iraqi Airwaysen.wikipedia.org

  A Boeing 737 operating to Amman crashes near Arar, Saudi Arabia, after a hijacking attempt, killing 63 people.

• 1970

  Wide-body expansion

  [1]Iraqi Airwaysen.wikipedia.org

  The airline adds Boeing 707 and later Boeing 747 aircraft for longer-range international service.

• 1960

  Separation from Iraqi State Railways

  [1]Iraqi Airwaysen.wikipedia.org

  Iraqi Airways becomes operationally separate from the railway organization on 1 April.

• 1955

  Vickers Viscounts enter service

  [1]Iraqi Airwaysen.wikipedia.org

  The introduction of Vickers Viscount turboprops expands the carrier's international capabilities.

• 1946

  Commercial operations begin

  [1]Iraqi Airwaysen.wikipedia.org

  Iraqi Airways begins flying on 28 January with de Havilland Dragon Rapide aircraft, initially serving Syria.

• 1945

  Iraqi Airways is founded

  [1]Iraqi Airwaysen.wikipedia.org

  The airline is established as a department of Iraqi State Railways.

State-owned national carrier focused on restoring Iraq's domestic connectivity and rebuilding regional and international links.

• Passenger aviation · 1946

  Domestic scheduled passenger services

  Iraqi Airways connects Baghdad with Iraqi cities including Basra and, subject to security and operational conditions, destinations in northern Iraq. Domestic service has repeatedly been restored, restricted or suspended in response to war, no-fly zones, sanctions and local security conditions.

• Passenger aviation · 1946

  Regional international passenger services

  Regional flying is the airline's core international activity, linking Iraq with Middle Eastern destinations such as Amman, Tehran, Bahrain, Doha, Damascus and Saudi Arabian pilgrimage gateways. Frequencies and destinations have varied according to regulatory permissions, security conditions and fleet availability.

• Passenger aviation

  European and long-haul services

  Iraqi Airways has periodically operated or attempted to restore services to London, Germany and Sweden, while historical wide-body operations reached farther international markets. European operations have sometimes depended on wet-leased aircraft and partner operators because of certification, legal and operational constraints.

• Seasonal passenger aviation

  Pilgrimage flights

  The airline operates seasonal services associated with Hajj and other religious travel, including flights to Jeddah. Pilgrimage flying has remained one of the carrier's recurring international activities during periods when its regular network was constrained.

• Air freight

  Air cargo

  Cargo has formed part of Iraqi Airways' historical business scope. The airline operated dedicated or adaptable cargo aircraft in earlier periods, including Ilyushin Il-76 aircraft, although current cargo capacity and offering are not specified in the supplied material.

• 2010

  Kuwait Airways asset dispute

  A long-running Kuwait Airways claim concerning aircraft and other assets associated with Iraq's 1990 invasion of Kuwait disrupted Iraqi Airways' attempted London service. During the April 2010 launch, documents and an aircraft-related asset became involved in proceedings in the United Kingdom. The dispute followed an earlier settlement under which Iraq agreed to pay compensation.

  Source

Read more

• 2015

  Finance modern aircraft acquisitionsStrategy

  Background

  Iraqi Airways sought funding for a large-scale replacement and expansion of its aircraft fleet.

  Action taken

  The airline announced a $2 billion Citibank loan intended to finance modern Boeing 777 and Boeing 787 aircraft.

  Aftermath

  The announcement reinforced fleet modernization as a central part of the airline's recovery strategy; the supplied material does not establish the full final implementation of the financing plan.

  Reported aircraft financing. $2 billion (2015)

  Source

• 2014

  Suspend Mosul serviceStrategy

  Background

  The capture of Mosul by ISIL made regular airline operations to the city impractical.

  Action taken

  Iraqi Airways suspended flights to Mosul.

  Aftermath

  The suspension illustrated the continuing effect of Iraq's security environment on the carrier's network.

  Source

• 2012

  Adopt a new fleet liveryStrategy

  Background

  The carrier was modernizing its fleet and brand presentation during its postwar rebuilding period.

  Action taken

  Iraqi Airways introduced a new green livery across the fleet.

  Aftermath

  The green visual identity became the airline's principal contemporary aircraft scheme in the supplied historical account.

  Source

• 2008

  Commit to a major fleet renewalM&A

  Background

  The carrier needed newer aircraft to rebuild domestic and international operations after years of war, sanctions and restricted flying.

  Action taken

  The Iraqi government signed a Boeing contract covering 30 737-800 aircraft with an option for 10 more and pursued additional wide-body aircraft. A separate agreement covered Bombardier CRJ-900ER aircraft.

  Aftermath

  The program led to new aircraft deliveries, but later changes to the aircraft mix, financing issues and Kuwait-related litigation affected implementation.

  Reported Boeing contract value. $2.2 billion (2008)

  Source

• 2003

  Create a postwar operating structureStrategy

  Background

  The airline faced legal exposure connected with the former Iraqi regime and needed a structure for restarting international operations after the Iraq War.

  Action taken

  Iraqi Airways announced an international relaunch and transferred rights to its name to a new company intended to continue operations while addressing legal claims.

  Aftermath

  Scheduled service restarted in October 2004, beginning with Baghdad-Amman operations.

  Source

1. 1Iraqi Airwaysen.wikipedia.org