An Aegean Airlines flight touched down at Baghdad International Airport on Tuesday, becoming the first direct service from a European carrier to Iraq's capital in over three decades, according to Iraq's Ministry of Transport.
The ministry hailed the Greek airline's arrival as a "pivotal milestone" in revitalizing Iraq's aviation industry and reintegrating it into the European air network.
No European airlines had flown directly to Baghdad since the early 1990s, largely due to security risks stemming from Iraq's 1990 invasion of Kuwait under Saddam Hussein and the subsequent 2003 U.S.-led invasion that toppled his regime.
In recent years, Iraq has experienced relative stability, enabling authorities to pursue foreign investment and economic reconstruction, including upgrades to Baghdad's airport.
The new Athens-Baghdad route will run twice weekly, with potential for expansion based on passenger demand, the ministry noted.
Aegean had previously introduced flights to Erbil in Iraq's Kurdistan Region earlier this year, further expanding its presence in the country.
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