Gulf Air launches third Iraq route

Gulf Air is anticipating a rise in passenger numbers to Iraq as investment into the country's infrastructure continues

Gulf Air has commenced services to Erbil, in Northern Iraq.

The airline will operate three flights a week to the city, which is the capital of the Kurdistan region of Iraq.

It takes to three the number of destinations in Iraq flown by Gulf Air, following the launch of services to Baghdad and Najaf in September.

Gulf Air CEO Samer Majali said: “Today’s inaugural flight to Erbil completes a hat-trick of services Gulf Air offers to key destinations in Iraq. It is yet another objective successfully achieved as we continue to expand our presence in Iraq with two more destinations in the pipeline, establishing our market leadership in Iraq.

“The Kurdistan region in the north of Iraq is prospering and peaceful and has significant tourism and business potential which we will to tap into. In anticipation of the expected rise in visitors to the region in the coming years, a new airport will open in Erbil in 2010 capable of handling 2.75 million passengers per year.

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“Already there is an increase in the amount of executive accommodation available and private sector investment across a wide range of sectors in the region now totals more than US $16 billion. These are all clear signs that this region means business. My hope is for Gulf Air to support and take advantage of these opportunities, with Bahrain becoming the key GCC gateway for traffic from Asia Pacific and the Indian Subcontinent, the Middle East and Europe to Erbil.”

Gulf Air will operate the service with an A320 aircraft.

The airline is currently renewing its narrow body fleet which will see the arrival of 10 new Airbus A320 aircraft into the fleet by December 2010.