Posted on 01/24/2004 7:18:03 AM PST by Pikamax
Iraqi Airways to start scheduled flights from Arbil airport
Baghdad, Iraq Press, January 24, 2004 – Iraqi Airways is planning to resume international scheduled flights from an airport in the Kurdish city of Arbil, according to the national carrier’s Director-General Muhanad al-Mufti.
Insurgents have repeatedly attacked the International Baghdad Airport, currently under US occupation.
The airport, formerly known as Saddam International Airport, is now mainly used for military flights.
Mufti said the airport in Arbil was safer and had the facilities necessary for both domestic and international flights.
Communications Minister Behnam Zaya Polos visited Arbil last month and met with Kurdish regional officials who were happy to have the city’s airport used for international flights, Mufti said.
It would be the first time the Iraqi Airways starts scheduled flights since 1990 when international sanctions grounded its fleet.
Iraqi Airways had 17 jets and all of which were moved for safety to Jordan, Tunisia and Iran prior to the outbreak of the 1991 Gulf War over Kuwait.
Iraq wants the planes returned and Mufti said Iraqi technicians were currently inspecting them to see whether they could still be used for flying.
“If the experts say they are unsafe to fly, we will sell the planes,” Mufti said.
While the company has lost its planes, it has successfully preserved most of its 800 employees.
Mufti said US troops in the airport and related facilities would leave the area by July 1, the date the occupation forces have set to return sovereignty to the Iraqis.
“Our employees are ready to move in and run the airport once the troops leave,” he said.
Iraqi Airways is reported to have three planes still considered usable: A Boeing 747, a Boeing 727 and an Il-76 which the former regime used for domestic flights to Basra in the south and Mosul in the north in defiance of US-imposed no-fly zones.
The former regime had a contract with the European Airbus company for the purchase of five planes.
“We want to revive the Airbus contract,” Mufti said.
He said Iraq had paid 5 percent of the estimated costs of the contract with Airbus.
I guess the French will participate in rebuilding Iraq after all.
Age doesn't really matter as long as they were stored properly and are given proper maintenance. The aircraft have been stored in desert environments which is the best place due to lack of high humidity. Also, the number of cycles (cycle= 1 takeoff, 1 landing) is far more important in determining the viability of an aircraft. These Iraqi aircraft haven't flown since 1990 so their number of cycles is probably low for aircraft of comparable age. Look @ Northwest DC-9's many of which date from the 1960's. They're still flying safely every day.
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