All commercial airlines are expected to resume normal operations at Erbil International Airport by early June. The timeline follows the reopening of Iraqi airspace after recent regional tensions.
Lawand Mamondy, head of the Kurdistan Region’s Aviation and Tourism Companies Union, confirmed the plan. He said the recovery of air travel is moving in gradual steps. Mamondy also serves as CEO of Fly Erbil, the region’s main carrier during the disruption.
He explained that daily flights are already operating from Erbil. These flights connect the Kurdistan Region to destinations in Europe and the Middle East. Fly Erbil has played a key role by filling the gap left by suspended international airlines.
Mamondy said the airline currently carries about 500 passengers per day. Flights operate regularly to several cities. These include Istanbul, Düsseldorf, Hanover, Stuttgart, Berlin, Copenhagen, Munich, and Amsterdam. This network has helped maintain links with Europe despite limited regional air traffic.
Therefore, the recovery follows a ceasefire between the United States and Iran. After the agreement, the Iraqi government reopened the national airspace to civilian flights. Despite this step, travel demand remains low, and flight volumes are still limited.
Mamondy said Iraqi airspace is fully open and safe for aviation. However, regional traffic faces other challenges. Airspace in Kuwait and Bahrain remains closed to normal transit. These routes were once key corridors for international flights heading to the Kurdistan Region.
He explained that the closure disrupts common flight paths. As a result, fewer international planes pass through the region. This has reduced overall air traffic despite local readiness.
Fly Erbil plans to expand its network in May. The airline will resume flights to Frankfurt and London. This step aims to support a full recovery by early June.
Other airlines are also operating limited services. They run domestic flights to Baghdad and Basra. Some international routes to Dubai, Cairo, Sharjah, and Damascus are also active.
