Iraqi Airways is currently in the process of taking delivery of its first Airbus A220, and boy am I intrigued.
Continue reading: Iraqi Airways’ Gorgeous New Airbus A220-300
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
I’ve flown Iraqi Airways quite a bit, and everything was super safe and professional. They’re definitely modernizing their fleet, especially with the new additions over the past 10 or so years.
Baghdad Airport can be a little confusing, but you can totally connect internationally without leaving the sterile area.
Iraqi pilots are not trained well to land. Had many bumpy landings in IQ in the late 70s (before iran/iraq war and gulf wars so this was not a warzone landing).
I’d love to go back and visit one day. Beautiful country, and looks like the airline has some beautiful new planes!
Mrs Chuvash and I went to Iraq over Thanksgiving (they do visa on arrival since March) and we had a great experience. Everyone is very friendly and it felt surprisingly safe. I don't think there is much of a "points" angle here, but if you're feeling adventurous I would definitely go there.
I would have loved to fly Iraqi airways from Bassra to Baghdad but we didn't get a chance
Wow. Great to see a Canadian in Iraqi colours at MAN. Makes a change from Jet2. Lol.
Iraqi Airways has a really fantastic livery, it's got a retro vibe without looking dated - looks great on the A220.
You mention the problem Europe, what about problems flying to other places and where can you fly to to/from Iraq?
You are lucky, but for majority of travellers, visiting Iraq is a red flag in your travel history if you ever plan to apply for visas of certain countries. I still remember a few years ago, the amount of questions and justifications I had to provide the US Embassy in Stockholm of all places, explaining the 6 odd Russian tourist visa stamps on my passport
But honestly, someday if the world becomes a better place, I truly wish to explore Afghanistan, Syria and Iraq, such beautiful countries but lost behind an ideological crisis
Just a word of caution: Non-US-citizens who have visited Iraq, are banned from entering the US. So Iraqi Airways is off limits for us, I'm afraid.
With a few exceptions: UN employees, aid workers, diplomats and journalists.
I am not a U.S. citizen but fall into the last category and have therefore traveled to the U.S. and Iraq multiple times without difficulty.
Good choices.
Lived in Syria just before the Arab spring became active. Out of the 180 countries I’ve visited, Syria before current day is easily in my top 5.
The mountains of Afghanistan are gorgeous. Did an expedition for a documentary to spot snow leopards - simply godsmack!
So your experience from over 40 years ago still holds good? Bearing in mind that all the pilots from the late 70s will have long been retired by now? Or do you have inside knowledge of Iraqi Airways recent training?
Nice logic, Knight.
@Andy - your comment is false. I am a citizen of Singapore. I visited Iraq in 2017 and I have entered the U.S. multiple times since then. The only difference was that I couldn’t enter using an ESTA but now had to apply for a visa. Other than that, the process was straight forward with only one question on my travel to Iraq during my visa interview.