New flights to Baghdad launched
Austrian Airlines is to relaunch flights to the Iraqi capital in June, from when it will offer three flights a week to the former war zone.
The airline will fly to Baghdad from Vienna, with connecting flights from London Heathrow with partner bmi.
It is already possible to fly from the UK to Baghdad on Etihad Airways from Heathrow and Manchester and on Turkish Airlines from Heathrow and Birmingham.
Austrian’s flights to Baghdad, which will be its second destination in Iraq after Erbil, will be on an Airbus A320.
Austrian Airlines originally launched flights to Baghdad in 1982, but was forced to discontinue its service during the Kuwait crisis in 1990.
In December 2006, Austrian became the first Western European airline to operate a service to northern Iraq, and has continually expanded its presence in the region. In summer 2011, Austrian Airlines will operate six flights a week to Erbil.
In spring 2004, Austria became the first country in Western Europe to conclude a new, liberal and bilateral transport agreement with the Iraqi authorities after the Iraq war. This was done on the initiative of Austrian Airlines.
With the additional connection to Baghdad, Austrian Airlines offers flights to 12 destinations in the Middle East.
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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