Iraq-Egypt flights resume after 15 years
(AP)
Updated: 2005-10-21 10:12

An Iraqi Airways plane landed in Cairo on Thursday, making the first regular flight between Iraq and Egypt in 15 years.

The plane, which carried 75 passengers, took off from Baghdad nine hours late because of bad weather.

An Iraqi Airways plane, similar to the one pictured August 2005, touched down at Cairo airport, marking the resumption of regular flights by the national carrier between Cairo and Baghdad after a 15-year hiatus, officials said. [AFP/File]

"The resumption of flights reflects the importance of economic and political relations between the two countries," said Saad Rida, the Iraqi charge d'affaires in Cairo.

Egypt severed air links with Iraq in 1990 in compliance with U.N. sanctions imposed on Iraq after its invasion of Kuwait that year.

Rida said Iraqi Airways initially would fly twice a week to Cairo, although Egypt has given permission for four flights a week.

Thursday's passengers included Ahmed Abdel-Wahab, a senior official in Iraq's Transportation Ministry, who said the airline considered the flights to Cairo part of its expansion program.

Iraq's national carrier is now flying to Syria, Jordan, United Arab Emirates and Turkey, and plans service to Lebanon and Iran.