Direct flights between Iraq's Kurdistan region and Saudi Arabia resumed on Wednesday, whereby two flights a week will be scheduled.
A Flynas flight, a Saudi budget airline, took off from Erbil International Airport at 7.25am local Iraq time and arrived at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah.
"Today, April 5, 2023, Fly Nas Airlines resumed flights to Erbil International Airport after suspending flights during the coronavirus pandemic and the closure of Erbil International Airport as part of coronavirus prevention," an official from Erbil airport told The National.
"Every Sunday and Tuesday there will be flights (arrival and departure) to Erbil International Airport," said the official.
Today's flight had around 174 passengers on board, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
Flights by Saudi Arabian airlines and Flyadeal, a low-cost Saudi airline, will take off from the Kurdistan region in May.
"The success of this development is due to the Saudi-Iraq co-operation committee with support and direction from Saudi Arabia's crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Al Sudani," SPA said in a statement.
"It will enhance economic and trade ties between the two states," said the statement, adding that it will also enable a better flow of pilgrims wanting to travel to Makkah and Madinah from Iraq.
Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation aims to expand air connectivity to 250 destinations, carry 330 million passengers, and boost air cargo capacity to 4.5 million tonnes by 2030 in line with the kingdom’s national aviation strategy, it said.
Saudi Arabia severed relations with Iraq after it invaded Kuwait in 1990.
But reconciliation between Baghdad and the kingdom began in 2015, when Saudi Arabia reopened its embassy in Baghdad.
For years, Iraq has been seeking economic benefits from closer ties with Riyadh and other Gulf states as it tries to address demands for reform and curb corruption.
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 194hp at 5,600rpm
Torque: 275Nm from 2,000-4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Price: from Dh155,000
On sale: now
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo
Power: 398hp from 5,250rpm
Torque: 580Nm at 1,900-4,800rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined: 6.5L/100km
On sale: December
Price: From Dh330,000 (estimate)
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
Karwaan
Producer: Ronnie Screwvala
Director: Akarsh Khurana
Starring: Irrfan Khan, Dulquer Salmaan, Mithila Palkar
Rating: 4/5
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Tonight's Chat on The National
Tonight's Chat is a series of online conversations on The National. The series features a diverse range of celebrities, politicians and business leaders from around the Arab world.
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