Kuwait suspends Iraq flights following Baghdad attack

Jazeera Airways (J9, Kuwait) and Kuwait Airways (KU, Kuwait) have suspended flights to Iraq following Friday’s rocket attack on Baghdad airport in which at least one aircraft was hit.

Iraqi media said six rockets struck the airport during an early morning attack damaging a runway as well as a parked Iraqi government A300B4, YI-APX (msn 239), and an UR Airlines (UD, Baghdad) B737-400, YI-AQS (msn 25765). UR Airlines has since confirmed the damage incurred was only minor and repairable. The target of the attack was said to be the US airbase Camp Victory, which is located within the confines of the airfield.

So far, Iraqi Airways (IA, Baghdad) and most airlines have continued to serve the Iraqi capital as per normal, with the exception of the Kuwaiti carriers, which have acted on instructions from the Kuwaiti Directorate General for Civil Aviation (DGCA) because of “current conditions”. Neither has yet given an indication as to when flights to Najaf, their only destination in Iraq, will resume.