Austrian Airlines Becomes First Major Western Carrier to Resume Baghdad Service

This blog post was updated on October 4, 2019.

Austrian Airlines has become the first major airline from the West to resume direct service to the battle-torn capital of Iraq.

 

After suspending service to Baghdad at the dawn of the first Gulf War in 1990, an Austrian Airlines flight touched down in the capital on Wednesday for the first time in over two decades.

 

The flight is part of a new Vienna-Baghdad route that will operate three times per week, according the carrier.

 

While regional connecting service to Baghdad has been available for some time, this marks the first time in years that direct service to the Iraqi capital will be available from Western Europe.

 

It is seen as an important step for Iraq’s future as the nation tries to lure investors and rebuild following decades of war and oppression.

 

Source: MSNBC