Lufthansa has announced plans to become the first European airline to serve Baghdad since the start of the Gulf War.
The German carrier says it is “examining the possibility of launching several new services to Iraq”, with planned routes from Frankfurt and Munich to Baghdad as well Erbil, a route already served by Austrian Airlines from Vienna.
Lufthansa says it aims to launch the new services in the summer of 2010, once traffic rights have been obtained, and infrastructure requirements have been fulfilled.
The move would make Lufthansa the first European airline to serve the Iraqi capital for many years. Gulf Air launched flights from Bahrain to several destinations in Iraq late last year, while Iraqi Airways announced last year that it planned to recommence services to London, but has yet to confirm a specific launch date, with its website advising customers to contact its London sales office.
Lufthansa itself operated flights to Baghdad between 1956 and the start of the Gulf War in 1990. The carrier says that exact flight times and fares will be announced at a later date as soon as booking for the new routes opens.
For more information visit lufthansa.com.
Report by Mark Caswell
