UAE airlines stop flights to Erbil in Iraq over safety concerns
UAE airlines have grounded flights to Erbil in Iraq due to concerns over safety.
With the extremist organisation Islamic State in Iraq and Levant (ISIL) razing ancient cities in northern Iraq, Etihad Airways, Emirates Airlineand flydubai have all suspended flights to the area.
An Etihad spokesperson said: “Due to the deteriorating security situation in Iraq, Etihad Airways has suspended all flights to Erbil effective Friday, March 6 and until further notice.”
The spokesperson for the Abu Dhabi-based airline added: “The safety of our passengers and employees is always our first priority, and we will continue to monitor the security situation closely before recommencing scheduled services to and from Erbil.”
Emirates said that not only had they cancelled flights to Erbil, but they have also halted plans to resume trips to Baghdad, the capital of Iraq.
A spokesperson said: “Emirates has deferred the resumption of services to Baghdad, which was planned for March 1, and has also suspended flights to Erbil from March 7, until further notice.
“We continue to operate services to Basra as scheduled. Emirates remains committed to serving our customers travelling to and from Iraq, and we hope to be able to resume services to Baghdad and Erbil as soon as operating conditions allow.”
Emirates had four weekly flights to Erbil.
Budget carrier flydubai, which was involved in a security incident in January when bullets hit one of its planes landing in Baghdad, has temporarily suspended flights to Erbil and Sulaimaniyah due to “expanded military activity in the north of the country”.
Flydubai is still flying to Baghdad, but Etihad’s service to the Iraqi capital will remain suspended.
ISIL have destroyed ancient remains of the 2,000-year-old city of Hatra in northern Iraq. The extremists also looted and bulldozed the ancient Assyrian city of Nimrud last week.