Iraqi Ministry of Transport Reports Notable Increase in Air Overflights

The Ministry of Transport reported on Saturday a significant increase in the number of flights crossing Iraqi airspace, confirming its efforts to open additional corridors to accommodate the surge and ensure safe transit routes. Hussein Ahmed Al-Karbalai, the Ministry's Director of Media, clarified that the General Company for Airport Management and Air Navigation, by a Cabinet decision, re-linked the former Department of Airport Management with the General Company for Air Navigation Services. He noted that the company works to organize airline flights, provide a suitable environment for aircraft reception and departure, and secure their safe passage through Iraqi airspace by taking them over from neighboring airspaces and managing their landing and takeoff from airports. It also provides necessary services within airports, including arrival and departure procedures, operational organization, flight schedule determination, and coordination with supporting entities like passports and customs. Al-Karbalai stated that the Ministry of Transport charges $450 USD for each aircraft transiting Iraqi airspace. The collected revenues, considered income for self-funded companies, are distributed among the state treasury, covering employee salaries and incentives, and funding aviation sector development projects. He affirmed that the Ministry is making efforts to open additional air corridors or resume previous ones, contingent on the region's stability. He emphasized the high readiness of the company's technical staff, in terms of human resources and technical equipment, to accommodate any increase in flights and ensure safe routes. Al-Karbalai highlighted the excellent performance of Iraqi cadres in the previous period, as no incidents were recorded despite sometimes difficult days or flights coinciding with high-level escalation, such as during the reverse Hajj escort. He noted that national teams doubled their efforts and completed Hajj escort operations ahead of schedule to ensure safe passage. Furthermore, Iraqi flights experienced no schedule disruptions; instead, the rate of flights crossing Iraqi airspace has shown good growth since last July until now.