Flights between Turkiye and the Iraqi Kurdistan region’s al-Sulaymaniyah have officially resumed as of Sunday, marking a significant development following an extended suspension due to security concerns. The first Turkish aircraft landed at Sulaymaniyah International Airport just after midnight, carrying passengers from Turkiye. The aircraft is scheduled to depart early Monday with travelers heading back, and regular weekly services are set to continue thereafter.
The flight ban, which originated on April 3, 2023, was implemented by Turkiye amid concerns over the alleged activities of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) at the airport. The Turkish government, which designates the PKK as a terrorist organization, continually extended the ban in the months that followed.
The lifting of the flight suspension comes after a request from the President of the Kurdistan Region, Nechirvan Barzani, to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. This diplomatic effort appears to have played a crucial role in resolving the impasse, enabling Turkish authorities to remove the restriction by retracting the relevant Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) from the international aviation system.
This resumption of flights not only facilitates travel between the two regions but also signifies a step towards improving relations and ensuring the movement of people in the region can resume safely and effectively.