Iraqi Airways continues fleet modernisation plan with focus on EU flights return
October 21, 2025
Iraq is continuing to take significant steps towards revitalising its commercial aviation sector, with state-owned Iraqi Airways hoping to obtain permission to restart operations to airports throughout the EU within months. The carrier has been banned from EU skies since 2015.
With a newly modernised aircraft fleet and improved airport infrastructure, the Middle-Eastern country is hoping that international flights can be expanded in the near future.
Iraqi Airways plans for EU return
Speaking at the Iraq Transport, Logistics and Airports Exhibition (ITL Expo 2025) held in Baghdad between 15 and 18 October 2025, the Iraqi Transport Minister, Razzaq Muhaibis, said that the Iraqi national airline has now met 78% of the EU’s safety and compliance requirements set in 2015, which would open the door for an EU return.
As part of a broader modernisation plan at the airline, the minister said that the airline has already made substantial improvements to its fleet and operational infrastructure, which lay the groundwork for improving flight connections from Iraq to Europe, as well as to the wider world.
Iraqi Airways has undertaken an ambitious fleet expansion program in recent years to improve the perception of the airline and to improve its safety and reliability records.
The current state of the Iraqi Airways fleet
The airline says it has added over ten new Western-built aircraft to its fleet acquired through agreements with major manufacturers such as Boeing and Airbus.
This expansion has brought the airline’s active fleet to 41 aircraft, according to Planespotters.net. This includes five Airbus A220-300, three Airbus A320-200, two Airbus A321-200, one Airbus A330-300, 15 Boeing 737-800, six Boeing 737 MAX 8, one Boeing 777-200, two Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners, and six Bombardier CRJ-900.
In addition to its current aircraft, the airliner is planning to increase in size to reach 53 aircraft by 2027. The increase in fleet size is a key part of the airline’s strategy to boost its regional and international services.
According to the airline, the upgraded fleet will support the airline’s ambition to reopen long-haul routes, including flights to Europe, once the European Union’s flight ban is lifted.
The minister added in his address at the Expo that the measures being taken to modernise the Iraqi Airways fleet are part of a corrective plan for an IATA operational safety audit, which has, as its intention, to allow Iraqi Airways to resume flying to EU countries, as well as to others in the Middle East, Asia, and the US.
The EU is taking a cautious approach
According to the European Commission, in June 2025, a technical meeting with the Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority had indicated that the Iraqi regulator was undertaking a wide-scale review of the legislative and institutional aspects of commercial aviation in the country to improve aviation safety oversight.
However, despite recognising the progress that had been made in this regard to date, the Commission put on hold an on-site inspection of Iraqi Airways operations due for September 2025, citing “insufficient demonstrative progress on certain improvements.”
While the work continues to bring the national career up to internationally recognised safety standards, the Iraqi Government is also progressing on other aspects of the country’s aviation infrastructure. This includes the modernisation of its airport system.
Iraqi airports are seeing improvements
Upgrades have been made at Nasiriyah (XNH) and Mosul (OSM) airports, while Baghdad International Airport (BGW) is being expanded to handle 15 million annual passengers, an increase over the current limit of 8.5 million.
This development is expected to significantly improve the travel experience and accommodate growing passenger numbers.
The Iraqi Government says that these enhancements are aimed at delivering a more robust and efficient travel environment, making Iraq a more attractive destination for international tourists and hence opening up a vital source of overseas revenue for the country.
Tourism links are key for Iraq
Iraq’s government is keenly aware of the vital role that a reliable commercial airline sector plays in the development of the nation’s tourism sector. Without an internationally acceptable airline framework in place, Iraq is potentially letting tourism dollars slip through its fingers.
However, the country’s aviation modernisation strategy is about positioning Iraq as a competitive player on the global tourism map. With a more connected airline network, tourists will have better access to Iraq’s rich cultural heritage, historical landmarks, and unique landscapes.
The reopening of international routes will therefore open up new opportunities for travel to Iraq, attracting tourists from around the world. The increased connectivity will not only improve leisure travel but also provide a vital boost to business and cultural links between Iraq and Europe.
Iraq’s aviation sector is set to expand further. Once the EU flight ban is fully lifted, Iraqi Airways will seek to resume flights to other worldwide destinations, expanding its reach across continents even further.
These efforts will not only benefit tourists seeking new destinations but will also help position Iraq as an emerging hub for international travel.
Featured image: Anna Zvereva / Wikimedia Commons
