Qatar Airways increases flights between Doha, Sulaymaniyah

SULAYMANIYAH — Qatar Airways will increase its weekly flights between Qatar and Sulaymaniyah from five to ten, responding to growing passenger demand.

In Sulaymaniyah, daily and weekly flights are conducted by various airlines, including Iraqi Airways, Fly Baghdad, Qatar Airways, Royal Jordanian Airlines, Fly Dubai, and Mahan Air.

With Turkey’s longrunning ban on flights to Sulaymaniyah passing through Turkish airspace, demand has shot up for flights connecting from elsewhere on the Arabian Peninsula.

Sulaymaniyah Governor Haval Abubakir met with Emir Mohammed, the head of Qatar Airways’ office in Sulaymaniyah, on Tuesday.

“Qatar Airways has agreed to our proposal, which caters to passenger demand. Starting from July 1, 2024, the number of weekly flights will increase from five to seven,” Governor Abubakir told 964media.

The decision ensures daily availability of Qatar Airways flights at Sulaymaniyah International Airport. According to the governor, “In the near future, the number of weekly flights will increase to ten.”

Ahmad Ramazan, a service representative for an airline company, told 964media, “Passengers traveling to Qatar include businessmen and tourists. Some use it as a transit route to other countries.”

He noted an increase in passenger numbers from Sulaymaniyah to Qatar.

This development coincides with the opening of Qatar’s consulate in Erbil last Sunday in a ceremony.

“Last year, the first shipment of Kurdistan’s agricultural exports arrived in the Qatari market. We’re also in talks regarding industry, banking, and renewables. Today, we inaugurated the Qatar General Consulate in Erbil to help bridge trade and strengthen people-to-people ties,” PM Barzani, who attended the ceremony, said in a tweet.