Erbil International Airport has resumed Qatar Airways services after regional tensions eased and commercial flights gradually returned to normal.
Airport Director Ahmed Hoshyar said the first Qatar Airways passenger flight departed Doha and was scheduled to land in Erbil at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday.
He added that the same aircraft would leave Erbil about one hour later and return to Doha.
Qatar Airways had previously announced that it would restart regular flights to Erbil, Baghdad and Basra from August 8. The airline suspended services on July 24 because of regional conflict and security concerns.
The resumption follows the reopening of airspace over the Kurdistan Region and a broader recovery in commercial aviation.
Between 5:00 a.m. and 11:25 a.m. on Saturday, seven passenger flights landed at Erbil International Airport.
EgyptAir arrived from Cairo. UR Airlines flew from Cologne. Royal Jordanian operated a flight from Amman, while Pegasus Airlines arrived from Istanbul.
Another flight, XH521, reached Erbil from Damascus. Iraqi Airways flew in from Baghdad, and Flydubai arrived from Dubai. Airport officials said several additional flights were also heading toward Erbil during the day.
Only one scheduled UR Airlines service from London to Erbil was cancelled. The return of Qatar Airways adds another major international carrier to Erbil’s recovering flight schedule.
The airport had faced disruptions after airlines suspended routes because of security risks in the wider region. Officials now say operations are improving as airspace restrictions ease and carriers reassess conditions.
It also signals growing confidence among airlines as security conditions across the Kurdistan Region continue to stabilize gradually. Passengers are still advised to check with airlines before travelling because schedules can change quickly.
The restart of flights is expected to improve connections between Erbil and major regional and international hubs, while helping restore normal passenger movement after the recent disruption.
