EgyptAir to Return to Iraqi Market

EgyptAir is to resume services to Iraq over 20 years since it last operated flights into the country. The airline is to offer a four times weekly link between its Cairo base and Baghdad alongside, a three times weekly flight to Erbil. These flights are due to commence on July 16 and July 18 respectively and will enable the airline to take advantage of the growing trade in and out of Iraq as its recovery continues. The Star Alliance member will also look to offer onward connections from Cairo International Airport to destinations across the Middle East, Europe and even as far afield as North America.

EgyptAir officials have been studying the Iraqi market for a number of years and had revealed as long ago as 2003 that it would resume flights to the country when the times was right for the carrier.

As the table above shows, Baghdad currently has regular links to nine destinations including key trade routes to Abu Dhabi, Amman, Bahrain, Beirut and Istanbul by Etihad Airways, Gulf Air, Middle East Airlines and Turkish Airlines (THY), respectively. Austrian Airlines has this week launched its flights from Vienna.

Erbil, in the north of the country, has links to 14 destinations including a wider network of cities in Europe. An estimated 9,000 O&D passengers travelled between Cairo and Iraq in the past year despite there being no direct flights.