The US-led coalition administration in Iraq is nearing a decision on restarting commercial aviation in Iraq, but Iraqi Airways may not return as the national carrier.
Commercial flights in Iraq are prohibited and the coalition has restricted operations to military and humanitarian flights, saying the country's airports still do not meet international safety standards. The US Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance (ORHA), at present effectively governing Iraq, says there are several obstacles to Iraq rejoining the rest of the civil aviation world. Airport facilities - and two Iraqi Airways aircraft - were damaged in the war, and ORHA is still trying to find Iraqi air traffic controllers and other staff. ORHA also points at flight safety issues, saying the risk of hostile fire from the ground - either deliberately aimed at aircraft, or fired into the air during celebrations - is still too great and will delay both aid and commercial flights.
ORHA says it is "confident Iraq will have a national airline", but adds that the fate of former national carrier Iraqi Airways is "uncertain". Iraqi Airways has been grounded since the war began, and the current condition - and even location - of much of its fleet is uncertain.
Source: Flight International
