Mosul finalizes preparations to launch first domestic flight from international airport

NINEVEH — Iraq’s General Company for Air Navigation Services held a meeting Wednesday to finalize preparations for the launch of Mosul International Airport, with the first domestic flight scheduled to depart Thursday.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Transport, senior officials from air traffic management and aviation communications teams reviewed the operational status of communication, navigation, and radar systems.

They also discussed air traffic management plans to “ensure smooth coordination” between the Mosul control tower and control centers in Baghdad and other relevant entities.

The meeting also addressed technical support mechanisms and field coordination for the airport’s first day of operation, with flights to be conducted under visual approach conditions. Specialized technical teams will be present to oversee safe flight operations.

Al-Sudani last visited Mosul on July 16, when he inaugurated the rebuilt facility and described it as a “strategic asset for Nineveh and the wider country.” At the time, he said the airport would be “fully operational in two months after the selection of a specialized company,” calling it a vital link between Mosul, other Iraqi cities, and the region.

Reconstruction of the airport included an extended runway now measuring 3,000 meters long and 45 meters wide, capable of accommodating large passenger and cargo aircraft. The facility also features a modern terminal with arrival and departure halls, baggage systems, a VIP reception area, runway lighting, and advanced communication networks.

Mosul International Airport was destroyed during the war with the Islamic State after the group seized the city in 2014. Militants demolished terminals, booby-trapped runways, and wrecked control systems before the site was retaken by Iraqi forces, Kurdish Peshmerga, and coalition partners in February 2017.