newstodate.aero
Nov 22, 2007 (newstodate): The issue of direct flights between Sweden and Iraqi Kurdistan seems to have entered a new stage.
The direct flights have been banned since August 21 after a supposed missile attack on a Swedisk aircraft from Nordic Airways taking off from Sulaimaniyah Airport on August 10.
Also drabbed by the flight ban was another Swedish airline, Viking Airlines that long operated flights to Erbil, also in Iraqi Kurdistan.
The Swedish government has now closed the handling of an appeal from Viking Airlines as the carrier's traffic right on the route expired by the end of October, without reaching a decision.
It is thus again up to the Swedish CAA to consider the application for re-opening of the traffic, and expectations are that the requests will be granted.
Other operators including Hamburg International are reportedly also interested in opening traffic from Sweden's Stockholm Arlanda Airport to destinations in Iraqi Kurdistan in order to meet a sustained market demand among the large contingents of Iraqi and Kurdish nationals exiled in Scandinavia.
The direct flights have been banned since August 21 after a supposed missile attack on a Swedisk aircraft from Nordic Airways taking off from Sulaimaniyah Airport on August 10.
Also drabbed by the flight ban was another Swedish airline, Viking Airlines that long operated flights to Erbil, also in Iraqi Kurdistan.
The Swedish government has now closed the handling of an appeal from Viking Airlines as the carrier's traffic right on the route expired by the end of October, without reaching a decision.
It is thus again up to the Swedish CAA to consider the application for re-opening of the traffic, and expectations are that the requests will be granted.
Other operators including Hamburg International are reportedly also interested in opening traffic from Sweden's Stockholm Arlanda Airport to destinations in Iraqi Kurdistan in order to meet a sustained market demand among the large contingents of Iraqi and Kurdish nationals exiled in Scandinavia.