Flights from Sulaymaniyah International Airport to Germany have officially resumed after nearly two and a half years of suspension. The airport has restarted weekly flights to the German city of Düsseldorf, marking an important step in restoring international air connections for the Kurdistan Region.
At present, Sulaymaniyah International Airport operates between five and seven flights every day. These flights connect the city with several destinations inside Iraq and abroad. Current international routes include Qatar, Turkey, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia. With the resumption of the Germany route, Düsseldorf has once again become part of the airport’s regular flight schedule.
Therefore, the first flight to Düsseldorf took place on Tuesday, December 16, 2025. According to airport officials, another flight is scheduled for December 23, 2025. These flights confirm that the route is now active and will continue on a weekly basis. The renewed connection will benefit passengers traveling for tourism, business, education, or family visits.
Dana Mohammed, Director of Communications at Sulaymaniyah International Airport, spoke about the reasons behind the previous suspension. Additionally, he said Turkey closed its airspace to flights departing from Sulaymaniyah Airport, which stopped flights to Germany. As a result, many international routes that relied on Turkish airspace were affected at the same time.
Moreover, she added that the situation has now improved. With air traffic returning to normal, the airport has been able to restore flights to Düsseldorf. Mohammed confirmed that the airport plans to operate one flight per week on this route for the time being.
In 2023, Turkey closed its airspace to flights from Sulaymaniyah International Airport. Authorities extended the closure several times, causing long-term disruption to international travel. However, flights between Sulaymaniyah and Turkey officially resumed on November 3 this year. This development helped reopen access to European destinations.
The return of flights to Germany will strengthen travel links between the Kurdistan Region and Europe. It also reflects growing stability in regional air travel and renewed confidence in Sulaymaniyah International Airport as an international gateway.
