Multi-billion deal for Iraqi Airways

Founded at the end of World II with a fleet of Dragon Rapide and Vickers Viscount aircraft, Iraqi Airways is the oldest state-owned airline in the Middle East. But the recent succession of wars, no-fly zones and sanctions have taken a heavy toll and the once familiar green-and-white livery is rarely to be seen these days.

 

    

In fact, as a recently printed Baghdad T Shirt bears witness, its unpredictability with a fleet of unreliable second hand planes has earned it the nickname of Inshallah Airways.

But thanks to a $5 billion deal just signed with Boeing and Canadian plane maker, Bombardier for 50 new aircrafts, it is hoped that there are once again blue skies ahead for what was once one of the proudest airlines in the oil-rich region.

 

The first part of the order of 10 Bombardier CR1900 planes is due to arrive this summer, with the rest spread over 2008 and 2009. Aircrew and maintenance staff are already being trained in Jordan and the first 40 of next-generation Boeing 737s is due by 2012.In addition, Boeing has offered the revived airline both advice and expertise.

The hope for the revival of the national carrier is seen by the Iraqi Government as symbolic of revival taking place across the war battered economy, and also of the country' s unity. We are looking at this as a chance to restructure the whole aviation business in Iraq, said |Ahmed al-Saadawi, an adviser to the Prime Minister and chief of the office overseeing ports and airports.

With air traffic in the Middle East up 18% last year and still light compared with Europe and America, there is justifiable hope for the future. The one cloud still on the horizon is the possibility of expensive legal action from Kuwait, still smarting at the cost of ten its planes seized by Saddam' s army and not yet settled for.

Source: Noozz