Direct flights connecting the capital Baghdad to Berlin early December

German company Euro Wings announced on Friday the organization of direct flights between Baghdad and Berlin starting next December. A company statement explained that starting from the tenth of next December, German company Euro Wings, a unit of aviation giant Lufthansa, will operate four direct weekly flights from Berlin and Düsseldorf in western Germany to the Iraqi capital Baghdad, with two flights from Berlin and two from Düsseldorf weekly. The statement noted that the new flights will be added to existing services connecting Erbil directly with various German cities. It added that this increase comes due to the rising number of air travelers from Germany to Iraq under the Visiting Friends and Relatives program organized by Euro Wings. The statement continued that the company is entering the Iraqi air transport market, benefiting from the shortage of flights directly connecting Baghdad to Europe, which enhances its position as an international carrier in the Middle East after launching about 38 new routes in Europe and the Middle East. It also aims to benefit from business traffic between the two countries following the boost received by the business sector after Prime Minister Ali Al-Zaidi's visit to Germany, his invitation to German business figures to enhance their work in Iraq, and his pledge to overcome administrative and bureaucratic difficulties, remove pre-entry visa requirements, and grant visas upon arrival at the airport to reduce time and routine procedures. It was confirmed that these flights will provide an opportunity for more than half a million Iraqis residing in Germany to connect with their relatives and friends between Iraq and Germany, strengthening social and cultural bonds between the two nations.