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Türkiye's flag carrier, Turkish Airlines, announced Thursday that it will resume flights to Sulaymaniyah, one of the largest cities in northern Iraq, expanding its route network in the country to six destinations.
The national flag carrier currently operates regular flights from Istanbul Airport (IST) to Baghdad (BGW), Erbil (EBL), Basra (BSR), Najaf (NJF), and Kirkuk (KIK). With the reintroduction of the Sulaymaniyah route, Turkish Airlines will now serve all major Iraqi cities with daily connections.
Yahya Ustun, Senior Vice President for Media Relations at Turkish Airlines, said in a statement on X that the airline continues to proudly represent Türkiye in the skies around the world.
He added that Sulaymaniyah flights would soon be back in service, marking another step in strengthening ties between the two neighboring countries.
"We are delighted to reconnect our Sulaymaniyah route with the skies," Ustun said. "Our flights, operating seven days a week, aim to further enhance the commercial, cultural, and touristic relations between Iraq and Türkiye. We invite our guests to experience Turkish hospitality at the highest standards in the sky."
Türkiye had previously closed its airspace to flights using Sulaymaniyah International Airport on April 3, 2023. The decision was taken after authorities cited intensified activities by the terrorist group PKK and its reported infiltration into the airport, which was deemed to pose a potential threat to flight safety.
At the time, the restriction was initially set to remain in effect until July 3, with officials noting that developments would be closely monitored and the decision reviewed based on the evolving security environment.
However, after the dismantling of the PKK in May, security concerns eased, paving the way for the resumption of civil aviation links.
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