US Lifts Prohibition on Air Service to Iraq

For the first time in 13 years, commercial flights may soon take-off and land at what was once Saddam International Airport in Baghdad. The US Department of Transportation Friday lifted the prohibition on air service between the United States and Iraq.

Following a DOT order issued Aug. 8, 1990, US and foreign air carriers have been prohibited from selling in the United States air transportation that included a stop in Iraq and from engaging in air transportation to or from the United States with an aircraft of Iraqi registry.  The DOT order followed an executive order that imposed economic sanctions in Iraq.

On May 27, the US Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Asset Control announced that it had issued a general license, under its authority to implement the executive order, authorizing most of the formerly prohibited transactions, including those relating to aviation.

A Step Along The Route To Full Air Service

This is a necessary step, albeit intermediate, in the process of re-establishing commercial air service to Iraq," said US Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta.  "We are working closely with Ambassador Bremer in order to help Iraq to quickly reopen a safe and secure aviation link with the rest of the world."

While DOT's order lifts the aviation restrictions imposed in 1990, it does not authorize any air carrier to operate US-Iraq air service. Procedures for restoring US-Iraq air service are under review by the department.

FMI: http://dms.dot.gov