Etihad ‘first UAE airline’ to serve Iraq

Etihad Airways has announced a new Abu Dhabi-Baghdad service due to commence on April 26. The airline said it will be the first based in the UAE to fly to Iraq, should the service receive the government and regulatory approval it needs. The five-times weekly flight will be operated by a two-class Airbus A320. Etihad hopes to expand its operation further on June 1 by drafting in two more A320s to serve a second Iraqi destination, Erbil. Etihad’s CEO James Hogan said the airline was “committed to building and strengthening ties” within the Middle East region. “We expect to see strong demand on these routes, particularly from government and business travellers, as well as people from Iraq visiting family and friends around the world,” he said. Flight EY555 will leave Abu Dhabi for Baghdad each day except Tuesdays and Sundays at 1000, arriving at 1125 the same day. The return flight, EY554, will depart Baghdad on the same days at 1230, arriving at 1350. Etihad made the announcement yesterday and repeated it today, a sign that the service is unlikely to be affected by the volcanic ash currently causing havoc above the skies of northern Europe. Etihad is the latest airline to commence services to Iraq. In September Gulf Air confirmed expansion plans for Iraq by adding Basra and Solamnia to the previously announced routes to Baghdad, Najaf and Erbil (see online news September 2). More recently, Lufthansa confirmed it would resume its Frankfurt-Erbil service on April 25 (see online news March 25), while Viking Hellas Airlines started flights to Erbil, Sulaymanyiah and Baghdad aimed at UK travellers connecting via Athens (see online news February 18). For more information visit etihadairways.com. Report by Andrew Gough