Iraqi Airways Meets 70% of EU Safety Rules to Lift Flight Ban

Iraqi Airways has completed 70% of the European Union’s aviation safety requirements as part of its ongoing efforts to lift a long-standing EU ban, according to Iraq’s Minister of Transport, Razzaq Al-Saadawi.

Speaking to the state-run Iraqi News Agency (INA), Al-Saadawi said the airline is working with international aviation specialists to align both Iraqi Airways and the Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority (ICAA) with European safety standards.

The EU imposed a flight ban on Iraqi Airways in 1991 following the Gulf War and international sanctions against Iraq. Although the ban was briefly lifted in 2009, it was reinstated in 2015 due to repeated violations of safety regulations established by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).

Despite multiple attempts by Iraq to resolve the issue, the airline remains restricted from European airspace. Aviation experts cite Iraqi Airways’ ongoing noncompliance with EASA and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards as the primary reason for the continued ban.

To accelerate progress, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani has ordered structural reforms within the airline, including a new administrative framework, following consultations with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) last November.

Ministry of Transport spokesperson Maitham Al-Safi emphasized that achieving full compliance with international safety standards is essential for lifting the ban and revitalizing Iraq’s aviation sector.

Until Iraqi Airways meets the remaining safety requirements, the EU ban—active since 2015—continues to limit the airline’s international growth and restricts its access to key European markets.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, iraqinews.com

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Iraqi Airways Meets 70% of EU Safety Rules to Lift Flight Ban

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