Iranian Airlines Resume Flights to Iraq’s Najaf After US Exemption
NAJAF: Iranian airlines have resumed flights to Iraq’s Najaf after Baghdad secured a US exemption allowing most sanctioned Iranian carriers to operate services to the Iraqi city.
Najaf airport official Hussein Muhanna confirmed that flights between Iran and Iraq had restarted through Najaf International Airport.
Caspian Airlines operated the first resumed flight, with the aircraft landing at Najaf airport at around 5:15pm on Sunday.
The development follows an agreement announced by the Iraqi government on Friday. Under the arrangement, Iranian airlines other than Mahan Air will be permitted to operate up to 40 flights per day to and from Najaf.
Najaf is home to one of the most important religious sites for Shia Muslims and is a major destination for pilgrims travelling between Iran and Iraq.
Iraq had enforced a US restriction on Iranian airlines last month, causing significant difficulties for passengers, particularly those using Najaf airport.
Iranian carriers play an important role in transporting religious pilgrims between the two countries. Their passengers also include Iranian visitors travelling to religious sites in Iraq, Iraqi students studying in Iran and people travelling for medical treatment.
Najaf has traditionally been an important hub for flights connecting Iran with Iraq because of the large number of religious and other travellers using the route.
The United States has also granted a separate exemption to Iraqi Airways, allowing the Iraqi national carrier to operate flights between Najaf and Iran.
Those Iraqi Airways services are expected to begin later this month.
The resumption of flights is expected to provide more travel options for pilgrims, students, patients and other passengers travelling between Iran and Iraq.
