The Bahrain News Agency reported on Saturday that Gulf Air, the national carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain, will resume its flights to Iraq after a four-year suspension since the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, which led to widespread travel restrictions and a significant reduction in air travel demand.
Zayed bin Rashid Al Zayani, the Chairman of Gulf Air Group, welcomed the resumption of direct flights between Bahrain and Iraq, stating that it is a significant step in the company’s efforts to continue developing its network of destinations.
The Bahraini newspaper Al-Ayyam noted that there will be 11 flights per week to Iraq, including 7 to Najaf and 4 to Baghdad.
Bahrainis often travel to Iraq to visit the sacred sites of the Shiite community in Najaf, Karbala, Samarra, and Baghdad.
It is noted that Gulf Air’s first flights to Iraq started in 1974, before stopping during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, when the airline was operating flights to Baghdad, Najaf, and Erbil.
Around the same period, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the United States had banned U.S. carriers from operating over Iraq, Iran, and adjacent areas due to increased military activities and political tensions in the Middle East. This decision followed a missile attack by Iran on U.S.-led forces in Iraq, which escalated regional tensions and posed risks to civil aviation.
Recently, several airlines have resumed their flights to Iraq, indicating a growing stabilization and accessibility of air travel to the region. Etihad Airways has restarted flights to various destinations including Amman, Beirut, Tel Aviv, and notably, Iraq, after a brief airspace closure due to security concerns.
Additionally, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) reinitiated direct flights from Karachi to Najaf, Iraq in 2021. This resumption came after a period of discontinuation, and the inaugural flight was marked by a ceremonial welcome at Najaf airport, highlighting the strengthening ties between Pakistan and Iraq.
In 2020, Turkish Airlines and Pegasus have also resumed their flights to Iraq and Iran, after a temporary suspension due to regional tensions.
