Iraqi Airways Advances Towards Lifting EU Aviation Ban

Iraq's Ministry of Transport has reaffirmed its commitment to meeting the International Air Transport Association (IATA) requirements as part of ongoing efforts to lift the European airspace ban on Iraqi Airways.

According to a statement from the Ministry's media office, Iraqi Airways is working towards obtaining the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) certification in 2025, a key step towards lifting the European ban. This will be followed by securing the Third Country Operator (TCO) certificate, allowing the national carrier to resume flights in European airspace.

The Ministry confirmed its adherence to the required timelines in coordination with IATA and is actively addressing key aviation standards, including:

 - Fleet standardisation and reactivation of grounded aircraft.
 - Enhancing specialised aviation crews and diversifying service providers.
 - Implementing aircraft performance monitoring systems.
 - Upgrading quality assurance processes to meet all compliance requirements.
 - Modernising operational manuals and introducing the Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) system.
 - Adopting global aircraft maintenance and planning systems, with agreements signed with foreign service providers for ground handling and cargo operations.

The Ministry also noted that some requirements extend beyond Iraqi Airways to include the Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority (ICAA).

During a recent meeting with Prime Minister Mohammed S. Al-Sudani and Transport Minister Razzaq Muhaibis Al-Saadawi, IATA Vice President Kamil Al-Awadhi confirmed that Iraq has made significant progress, with 56% completion of the corrective action plan for lifting the ban.

The statement highlighted that while past progress towards lifting the EU ban was minimal, Iraqi Airways is now making tangible advancements in coordination with IATA's technical team.