Gulf Air resumes flights to Iraq after four-year hiatus

NEWSROOM — Bahrain News Agency reports that Gulf Air has announced the resumption of its direct flights to Iraq, ending a four-year suspension caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Zayed bin Rashid Al Zayani, chairman of Gulf Air Group, described the reinstatement of the service as a crucial step in the airline’s efforts to expand its network of destinations. The flights were initially halted in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gulf Air first began operating flights to Iraq in 1974. The airline previously offered routes to Baghdad, Najaf, and Erbil. Following the resumption, details regarding the flight schedules and frequency will be announced after all formal procedures are completed.

The Bahraini newspaper Al Ayam reported that the renewed service would include 11 weekly flights, with seven to Najaf and four to Baghdad. Many Bahrainis travel to Iraq to visit sacred sites in Najaf, Karbala, Samarra, and Baghdad, which are significant to the Shia Muslim community.