Aegean Airlines is set to become the first European airline to offer direct flights from Athens to Baghdad, starting December 16th, marking a significant step in strengthening economic and cultural ties between Greece and Iraq.

Aegean Airlines is poised to make history by becoming the first European airline to establish a direct flight route from Athens to Baghdad, as announced by Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis during his visit to Iraq. The inaugural flight is set for December 16th.

The Greek carrier already operates flights to Irbil, the capital of Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdish region. However, until now, concerns over security had deterred direct routes to Baghdad.

At a joint press conference with Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein, Gerapetritis expressed optimism about this new development. "I think this will substantially boost our people's economic but also cultural ties," he remarked.

Hussein welcomed this initiative and noted discussions are underway regarding further cooperation in agriculture, investment, and tourism sectors. He also highlighted recent visits from European leaders as evidence of Iraq's increasing stability and prominence on the global stage.

Additionally, there are ambitious plans for modernizing Baghdad’s international airport. A $764 million contract has been awarded for its expansion and operation. This venture involves a global consortium comprising Corporacion America Airport from Luxembourg and Iraqi investment firm Amwaj International.

Iraq is gearing up for parliamentary elections on November 11th, where current Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani aims for re-election-a feat seldom achieved by his predecessors. Al-Sudani initially came into power in 2022 with backing from pro-Iran factions but has since endeavored to balance relations between Tehran and Washington.

The upcoming elections will see nearly 8,000 candidates vying for 329 parliamentary seats: among them are 2,248 women and 5,520 men.
After the US-led invasion ousted Saddam Hussein in 2003, Iraq grappled with both a security vacuum and rising extremist groups such as ISIS.-Akhbrna News