PM Sudani, EU ambassador discuss lifting European airspace ban
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani on Monday met with EU Ambassador to Iraq Thomas Seiler, discussing a host of topics including bilateral relations and efforts to lift the European ban on Iraqi airlines.
“The discussions included potential enhancements in civil aviation cooperation, specifically measures to resume Iraqi aviation operations in European airspace,” said a statement from Sudani’s office about the meeting with Seiler.
The meeting also “focused on enhancing bilateral relations and directing efforts towards fostering more cooperation and fruitful economic partnerships with EU member states,” the statement added.
One of the oldest airlines in the Middle East, Iraqi Airways has been prohibited from operating in European Union airspace over safety violations since 2015. Iraq has been seeking to lift the ban since.
Iraq has repeatedly met with EU officials in efforts to lift the ban.
Iraqi Airways has a poor 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 Iraqi pilots got into a physical fight over dinner while flying a Boeing 737 with 160 passengers on board.
In August of last year, Iraqi Airways apologized after a bear escaped from a crate in the cargo hold, delaying a flight from Dubai to Baghdad.
“The discussions included potential enhancements in civil aviation cooperation, specifically measures to resume Iraqi aviation operations in European airspace,” said a statement from Sudani’s office about the meeting with Seiler.
The meeting also “focused on enhancing bilateral relations and directing efforts towards fostering more cooperation and fruitful economic partnerships with EU member states,” the statement added.
One of the oldest airlines in the Middle East, Iraqi Airways has been prohibited from operating in European Union airspace over safety violations since 2015. Iraq has been seeking to lift the ban since.
Iraq has repeatedly met with EU officials in efforts to lift the ban.
Iraqi Airways has a poor 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 Iraqi pilots got into a physical fight over dinner while flying a Boeing 737 with 160 passengers on board.
In August of last year, Iraqi Airways apologized after a bear escaped from a crate in the cargo hold, delaying a flight from Dubai to Baghdad.