Back to Baghdad: Aegean Airlines becomes 1st EU airline to serve Iraqi capital in 35 years
December 17, 2025
For the first time in 35 years, an EU-based carrier has operated a scheduled service to Baghdad in Iraq.
On Tuesday, 16 December, an Airbus A320 of Greek carrier Aegean Airlines touched down at the city’s Baghdad International Airport (BGW), marking an end to over three decades of being left off the international route maps of European carriers.
Aegean flies into Baghdad International Airport
The first flight, operated by Aegean’s Airbus A320 registered SX-DGB and carrying flight number AEE964, departed from Athens International Airport (ATH) at 08:29 local time on 16 December.
After a flight lasting three hours and 15 minutes, the aircraft touched down in Baghdad at 12:44 local time. The flight was met with a traditional water salute upon its arrival and was welcomed by local dignitaries and airport officials.
After 35 years, the first European aircraft has landed at #Baghdad International Airport, marking a major step in #Iraq’s return to the European aviation map and boosting confidence in its air safety and infrastructure.
— Peregraf (@PeregrafNews) December 16, 2025
More: https://t.co/AXBYasZBfp pic.twitter.com/Xy6IKREItn
The inaugural flight to Baghdad follows on from Aegean Airlines successfully launching flights between Athens and Erbil, the capital of the semi-autonomous region of Iraqi Kurdistan, earlier this year.
The Erbil region had been considered to be a haven of relative peace and stability in what has otherwise been a volatile country over recent years, and has paved the way for flights to return to Baghdad.
The Iraqi Ministry of Transport described the Greek carrier’s arrival as a “crucial step” that signalled the start of a new phase in the recovery of Iraq’s aviation sector and its return to the European aviation network.
“The landing signified Iraq’s return to European air transport, inaugurating a new phase of recovery for Iraq’s aviation industry,” the Ministry added.
The Aegean route between Athens and Baghdad has initially been planned to operate twice weekly, with the possibility of additional flights being added by the carrier depending on demand, said the Ministry.
European airlines have stayed away from Iraq since 1990
European airlines had not operated direct flights to Baghdad since the early 1990s due to security concerns following Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait under the then-Iraqi president Saddam Hussein.
The invasion ultimately led to the liberation of Kuwait by US and EU special forces, with a US-led invasion of Iraq following soon after, in what became known as the ‘Gulf War’.
With a mission target of overthrowing the regime of Saddam Hussein, this was achieved in 2003 when Hussein was arrested and handed over to the Iraqi authorities, following which he was executed.
Since then, however, the country has struggled to regain political stability. The power vacuum left behind became a battleground for warring factions, and years of civil unrest followed with sectarian violence and the rise of armed jihadist groups engulfing the country.
A sense of stability returns to Iraq
In more recent years, some political stability has been achieved with the election of Abdul Latif Rashid in 2022, following a general election in the country.
With that, the country has been building international trade links and trying to reassert Iraq’s presence on the global stage and to seek foreign investment as part of broader efforts to revive the Iraqi economy.
The return of flights to a major European capital marks the next stage of that transformation, and it is hoped will lead to other foreign airlines following suit. Interestingly, Aegean Airlines never originally served Baghdad, as the carrier only operated its first flight in May 1999.
Other airlines already serve Baghdad
While Aegean is not the first international airline serving Baghdad currently, it is the first European airline to do so. The carrier joins airlines from the Middle East that regularly operate flights to the city.
According to data obtained from Flightradar24, these include Middle East Airlines, Salam Air, Caspian Airlines, flydubai, Royal Jordanian, Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways, Pegasus Airlines, Ajet, Flynas, Air Arabia, Gulf Air, Oman Air, Emirates, Egyptair, and Mahan Air.
Also worth mentioning is Iraq’s own national airline, Iraqi Airways. Having once been the jewel in the crown of Iraq on the world stage, the carrier all but folded during the Gulf War. In the years since, the carrier has slowly rebuilt its fleet with Western types and has expanded its international domestic footprint.
According to Planespotters.net, the carrier currently operates a fleet of 41 aircraft. This comprises five Airbus A220s, three Airbus A320s, two A321s, one A330, 15 Boeing 737-800s, six 737 MAX 8s, one Boeing 777-200, two Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners, and six Bombardier CRJ-900s.
However, 21 of these aircraft, including all five of the Airbus A220s, are shown as parked. The carrier serves a variety of domestic and international services and operates 58 routes serving 38 destinations across 18 countries.
Featured image: Markus Mainka / stock.adobe.com
