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Gulf Air joins holding pattern to fly into post-Saddam Baghdad
Manama, Apr 21: Troubled airline Gulf Air yesterday became the latest carrier to announce it was planning flights into post-Saddam Baghdad.
Manama, Apr 21: Troubled airline Gulf Air yesterday became the latest carrier to announce it was planning flights into post-Saddam Baghdad.
"Bilateral agreements previously in place between the Gulf Air owner states and Iraq are still valid," said company executive Fareed Al-Alawi in a statement.
"It is however still necessary to negotiate with the present authorities to obtain clearances and finalise flight schedules into Baghdad International Airport, which is now open to commercial and religious traffic," he added.
US-led forces occupying Iraq said earlier today that the capital's airport was expected to open within a week for humanitarian flights. Previously known as Saddam International Airport, it had been closed since it was seized by the US Army's Third Infantry Division early this month.
British Airways and Britain's Virgin Atlantic both said this week they want to resume scheduled flights between London and Baghdad as soon as stability returns to Iraq. Gulf Air notched up debts of 700 million dollars to the end of last year forcing its co-owners Bahrain, Oman and Abu Dhabi to pump in 238 million dollars and defer debts under a three-year restructuring plan last month.
Bureau Report
"It is however still necessary to negotiate with the present authorities to obtain clearances and finalise flight schedules into Baghdad International Airport, which is now open to commercial and religious traffic," he added.
US-led forces occupying Iraq said earlier today that the capital's airport was expected to open within a week for humanitarian flights. Previously known as Saddam International Airport, it had been closed since it was seized by the US Army's Third Infantry Division early this month.
British Airways and Britain's Virgin Atlantic both said this week they want to resume scheduled flights between London and Baghdad as soon as stability returns to Iraq. Gulf Air notched up debts of 700 million dollars to the end of last year forcing its co-owners Bahrain, Oman and Abu Dhabi to pump in 238 million dollars and defer debts under a three-year restructuring plan last month.
Bureau Report