Iraqi Transport Ministry Reports 31% Increase in over flight Traffic after Airspace Restrictions Lifted

AVIATION NEWS-Transport Ministry said on Sunday that over flight traffic through Iraqi airspace had increased by 31% following the resolution of restrictions on prohibited airspace zones.
Captain Ihab Saad Kareem, director-general of the State Company for Airports and Air Navigation Management, said in a statement received by the Iraqi News Agency (INA) that civil aviation traffic crossing Iraqi airspace had risen significantly since the announcement on Sept. 18, 2026, that the issue of prohibited airspace zones had been resolved.
The average numbers of aircraft crossing Iraqi airspace increased by about 31% compared with the period before the zones were reopened to civil aviation, while traffic recorded a further increase in the subsequent period, exceeding growth rates recorded in the initial days, he said.
Restoring the airspace zones to civilian use had enhanced the flexibility of Iraqi airspace management and provided airlines with a wider range of route options, supporting smoother air traffic flows across Iraqi airspace, Kareem said.
He added that air traffic indicators were influenced not only by airspace management but also by operational factors and regional conditions. However, current data pointed to a positive trend in over flight traffic through Iraqi airspace, he said.