Basra airport sees surge in flights driven by Umrah and school break travel

BASRA — Basra International Airport has witnessed a surge in activity over the past week, with operations doubling to 17 flights per day, marking the busiest period in months.

Officials attribute the rise to peak travel season for Umrah pilgrimages and travelers taking advantage of the semester school break.

According to Airport Director Abdul Hussein Mohsen, a total of 117 flights took place between February 7 and 14, with six daily flights dedicated to travel to Saudi Arabia for Umrah. These numbers align with the peak season for such pilgrimages, falling within the Islamic months of Rajab and Sha’ban.

Furthermore, Abbas Hindi, an airline company director, highlighted the increased demand for flights to the Kurdistan Region during the mid-year school vacation period, with daily flights operating to both Erbil and Sulaymaniyah.