Iran, Iraqi Kurdistan to Launch New Flight Route

Director General of Airports of Iran’s West Azerbaijan Province Kamal Parhizkar told FNA on Saturday that the first direct flight from Urmia, the capital city of West Azerbaijan Province, to Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG)'s capital city of Erbil will be carried out in the very near future.

The Iranian official said that the Urmia-Erbil direct flights are the first priority for Iran since a large number of passengers travel between the Northwestern Iranian province and the KRG capital.

“Therefore, we will start carrying out the first direct flight at the earliest to serve the passengers,” he added.

Parhizkar talked about efforts underway to increase the number of flights from Urmia airport, saying that direct flights to Azerbaijan Republic from the main airport in West Azerbaijan Province, namely Urmia airport, has been postponed due to the recent sharp increase in flight ticket prices as a result of the depreciation of Iranian local currency the Rial against the US dollar.

He, meanwhile, said that after the holy month of Ramadan, the efforts will resume to establish direct flights to Azerbaijan Republic as well.

Late in February, KRG President Masoud Barzani, in a meeting with Iranian Ambassador to Baghdad Iraj Masjedi, said that Erbil is eager to promote ties with Tehran in all fields.

Barzani, during his meeting with Masjedi on February 21, welcomed Iran’s viewpoints on deepening cooperation, saying, “We believe in regular contacts with Iran, and we are eager to promote ties in all fields.”

Appreciating Iran for its helps for fighting terrorism, he said that the KRG will use all in power to step up cooperation with the country.

Iran’s envoy, for his part, described bilateral ties as strategic, saying that prospects for mutual cooperation are bright.

“Iraqi Kurdistan Region’s economic situation will improve in light of mutual collaboration,” he said, noting that Iran has remarkable volume of trade with Iraq and Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).

Transfer of Iran’s gas to KRG, mutual cooperation and private sector’s engagement can provide suitable opportunities for boosting relations, Masjedi said.

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