Home
Kuwait re-starts flights to Iraq on April 17
by ASC Staff on Apr 8, 2012
Kuwait is set to begin flights to Iraq later this month after a 21-year halt in services between the two countries, a Kuwaiti Ambassador said Wednesday.
The oil-rich Gulf state will re-open routes to Iraq on April 17, with flights operated by its second flag carrier Jazeera Airways, according to ambassador Ali al-Mu'min, quoted in a report by Iraqiya TV Channel.
The first flight will be allocated for Kuwaiti personalities visiting Iraq, and will run between Kuwait City and Al Najaf.
Kuwaiti airlines have also been granted access to fly to other Iraqi cities, including Mosul, Baghdad and Arbil.
Kuwait had previously cancelled all connections with Iraq in the wake of the 1991 Gulf War, but has since decided to re-launch flights following successful bilateral discussions between the country’s governments.
An aide to Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said in March that Iraq had reached a US$500m agreement with Kuwait to resolve a standoff over Gulf War-era debts that had prevented Iraqi Airways from flying to destinations in the West.
Under the deal, Iraq agreed to pay Kuwait US$300m in cash, and to invest another $200m in a joint Iraqi-Kuwaiti airline venture, Maliki's media adviser Ali al-Moussawi told Reuters.
In return, Kuwait would cease legal actions against Iraqi Airways.
The issue of Iraqi Airways debts is one part of a long-running dispute between Iraq and Kuwait. There is said to be billions of dollars of reparations owed dating back to Iraq's military occupation of Kuwait in 1990-91.
Saddam's forces seized aircraft and parts during their occupation of Kuwait, before they were driven out in the US-led Operation Desert Storm.
In 2010 Kuwait's lawyers tried to seize an Iraqi Airways plane on its first flight to London in more than 20 years.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
by ASC Staff on Apr 8, 2012
Kuwait is set to begin flights to Iraq later this month after a 21-year halt in services between the two countries, a Kuwaiti Ambassador said Wednesday.
The oil-rich Gulf state will re-open routes to Iraq on April 17, with flights operated by its second flag carrier Jazeera Airways, according to ambassador Ali al-Mu'min, quoted in a report by Iraqiya TV Channel.
The first flight will be allocated for Kuwaiti personalities visiting Iraq, and will run between Kuwait City and Al Najaf.
Kuwaiti airlines have also been granted access to fly to other Iraqi cities, including Mosul, Baghdad and Arbil.
Kuwait had previously cancelled all connections with Iraq in the wake of the 1991 Gulf War, but has since decided to re-launch flights following successful bilateral discussions between the country’s governments.
An aide to Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said in March that Iraq had reached a US$500m agreement with Kuwait to resolve a standoff over Gulf War-era debts that had prevented Iraqi Airways from flying to destinations in the West.
Under the deal, Iraq agreed to pay Kuwait US$300m in cash, and to invest another $200m in a joint Iraqi-Kuwaiti airline venture, Maliki's media adviser Ali al-Moussawi told Reuters.
In return, Kuwait would cease legal actions against Iraqi Airways.
The issue of Iraqi Airways debts is one part of a long-running dispute between Iraq and Kuwait. There is said to be billions of dollars of reparations owed dating back to Iraq's military occupation of Kuwait in 1990-91.
Saddam's forces seized aircraft and parts during their occupation of Kuwait, before they were driven out in the US-led Operation Desert Storm.
In 2010 Kuwait's lawyers tried to seize an Iraqi Airways plane on its first flight to London in more than 20 years.
[You must be registered and logged in to see this link.]
