Austrian Airlines Becomes First European Carrier to Operate in Iraq

Austrian´s flights to Erbil in Northern Iraq will be the first offered by any European carrier to the still war-stricken country. Commencing on March 9, 2006 the flights will initially operate twice a week (Thursday & Sunday) increasing to three per week from April 6. The service will be operated using an Airbus 319 and will depart Vienna arriving Erbil the following day. The flight connects with the flight from London.

The city of Erbil is a safe gateway into Iraq with a population of one million making it the fourth largest city in the country. The United Nations has plans to establish a support point for Iraq in Erbil from where there is rapid overland access to the cities of Mosul, Kirkuk and Sulaymaniyah. Erbil is in the developing and expanding economic region of Kurdistan where a range of international companies are already active, Austrians regional office was opened this month.

Austrians new Erbil destination is complimentary to existing regional strengths in Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Far East and creates a connection that is essential for the economic redevelopment of Iraq for international traffic.