Iraqi Airways to boost fleet to 80 planes by end of 2016

[k98nights]

Iraqi Airways to boost fleet to 80 planes by end of 2016

By Shaymaa Adel

Azzaman, December 15, 2014

Iraqi Airways has taken delivery of a new Boeing 737 as part of a deal Iraq has signed with the U.S. company for the purchase of 45 aircraft.

The Iraqi national carrier was banned from flying from 1990-2003 due to U.N. trade sanctions imposed on Iraq for its 1990 invasion of Kuwait.

Prior to U.N. sanctions, Iraq had one of the best fleets in the Middle East but most of its planes were stranded in airports in Jordan, Tunisia and Iran, and lack of repairs made them unusable.

The country began to build a new fleet in 2003 first by acquiring aircraft and then signing deals for the purchase of new planes from U.S.'s Boeing and European Airbus.

Iraqi deal with Boeing calls for the delivery of 45 new planes, 10 of which have already arrived in Baghdad. Under the deal, Boeing is obliged to deliver one new plane to Iraq every month until the end of 2016.

If Boeing honors the contract and the purchases and acquisitions with other major aircraft manufactures like Airbus and Bombardie ribus and Bo go according to plan, Iraqi Airways fleet will be boosted to 80 planes by the end of 2016.

The national carrier currently flies short and medium air routes between Iraq and its neighboring states as well as destinations in Europe and Asia.

The airways fleet is diversified with planes ranging from superliners capable of carrying up to 370 passengers and capacity to fly more than 16 hours to aircraft carrying 180 passengers.

http://www.azzaman.com/english/?p=690

[bigwave]

At about  $100M each this is good news.

[Laid Back]

Getting ready for the BIG Changes.!

Go Iraq keep moving forward.

[Lenape]

I agree.... This is good but who would want to Fly there in the conditions they are in ? I myself would love to go see the Place and they are some Beautiful Places.... My Pass Port is ready...

[Wiljor]

Sure doesn't look like Iraq is running out of cash to me as posted on another thread. On the contrary looks like they are going to arrive on the worlds stage fully loaded and ready for business, looken good folks.

[skeetdog]

Thanks k98....Yea, this all sounds good....Who in Iraq can afford a plan ticket in their present status....

[sandfly]

THANKS