Saudi carrier flynas launches direct flight to Iraq after 27 years

DUBAI: Saudi budget-carrier flynas yesterday launched the first direct flight between the kingdom and Iraq since the Gulf War 27 years ago, marking another move by the kingdom to improve ties with its neighbor in an attempt to blunt rival Iran’s vast influence there.

The carrier posted on its Twitter account an image of the crew that took part in the inaugural flight, which took off from Riyadh bound for Baghdad just before noon.

“We worked hard to see that flynas flights to the brotherly nation of Iraq are operational as quickly as possible in order to connect the two brotherly nations economically and socially after a 27-year-long break,” flynas CEO Bandar Al-Muhanna said in a statement. Saudi Arabia’s national carrier, Saudia, is scheduled to make its inaugural flight to Baghdad today, Abbas Al-Khafaji, the media director for Iraq’s Civil Aviation, told The Associated Press. The flights are the latest sign of improved relations between the two countries. A number of high-profile Iraqis have visited Saudi Arabia in recent months, including a rare visit in July by influential Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. Saudi Arabia also has plans to open a border crossing with Iraq, which has been closed since Iraqi forces invaded Kuwait in 1990 with the exception of some Iraqi pilgrims who have entered the kingdom for the Hajj. — AP