Iraq’s Fly Baghdad adds first B737-900

Fly Baghdad (IF, Baghdad) has taken delivery of its first B737-900(ER) following the arrival of OK-FTP (msn 35711) in Baghdad late last month.

Formerly HL8097 with Eastar Jet (ESR, Seoul Gimpo), the 14.3-year-old jet had been undergoing pre-delivery maintenance at Prague Václav Havel with Czech Airlines Technics (CSAT). Chief executive Basheer Alshabbani has since confirmed to ch-aviation that it has been added to the Iraqi register as YI-BAT.

The privately-owned Iraqi carrier currently operates a fleet of two B737-700s, two B737-800s, and one CRJ200. Operationally, it serves 11 cities across Iraq, Syria, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Lebanon.