First EU airline flight in 35 years lands in Baghdad

BAGHDAD: Iraq’s transport ministry said Tuesday that a flight operated by Greece’s Aegean Airlines had been the first European aircraft in 35 years to land at Baghdad’s international airport.

In a statement, the ministry said the arrival signalled “Iraq’s return to the European aviation map” and ushered in “a new phase of recovery for Iraq’s aviation sector.”

#UPDATE: First European Commercial Flight Lands in Baghdad After 35 Years#Iraq marked a milestone in its aviation sector on Tuesday as a passenger plane operated by #Greece’s Aegean Airlines landed at #Baghdad International Airport, becoming the first European commercial flight… pic.twitter.com/QA1L5oGsyb

— Mowliid Haji Abdi (@MowliidHaji) December 16, 2025

European airlines have not operated direct flights to Baghdad International Airport for security reasons since the early 1990s, when Iraq’s long-time ruler Saddam Hussein invaded neighboring Kuwait.