18.05.2026 01:10
Flights to Istanbul have officially resumed after a two-month hiatus at Kirkuk International Airport in Iraq, where flights were suspended due to escalating military tensions in the Middle East.
Flights between Kirkuk and Istanbul, suspended for about two months due to escalating military tensions in the Middle East, have resumed. After the US and Israel attacked Iran on February 28, Iraq closed its airspace to civilian flights. Today, the first commercial flight from Kirkuk International Airport to Istanbul was successfully completed.
FIRST FLIGHT COMPLETED
The Kirkuk Airport Press Office announced that Iraqi Airways successfully completed its first flight to Istanbul without any issues. The flight, after an approximately two-month hiatus, is considered important for the normalization of air traffic in the region.
FLIGHTS TO OPERATE 4 DAYS A WEEK
The statement indicated that flights on the Kirkuk-Istanbul route will operate 4 times a week on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. It was noted that with the start of the summer season and increased tourism activity, the number of flights is planned to be increased in the coming period.
ONE OF THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL ROUTES TO TURKEY
Kirkuk International Airport, officially opened on October 16, 2022, conducted its first international flights to Turkey within the same month, becoming an important transportation hub between the two countries.