Emirates, Etihad and FlyDubai suspend Erbil flights

DUBAI // Etihad Airways, FlyDubai and Emirates Airline have suspended flights to Erbil citing security concerns as ISIL razes ancient cities in Iraq’s north, while Emirates has put on hold its resumption of flights to Baghdad.

FlyDubai, which was involved in a security incident in January when bullets hit one of its planes as it landed in the Iraqi capital, temporarily suspended flights to Erbil and Sulaimaniyah, both in northern Iraq, due to "expanded military activity in the north of the country", it said.

Etihad said it had suspended flights to Erbil effective from March 6 until further notice, due to the “deteriorating security situation in Iraq”.

Emirates also suspended flights to Erbil from March 7 and deferred plans to resume flights to Baghdad, which it said last month would recommence on March 1.

“We hope to be able to resume services to Baghdad and Erbil as soon as operating conditions allow,” Emirates said.

"We need to assess every part of the operation and, at the moment, we are not ready to go back in," a spokesman said. "However, we continue to operate services to Basra as scheduled."

The General Civil Aviation Authority said that no UAE aircraft currently enters Iraqi airspace unless it is flying specifically to a destination within the country.

Ismail Al Baloushi, executive director of aviation safety at the GCAA, said that although no specific incident had led to the decision to suspend flights to Erbil from the UAE, increasing military activity in the area had led to the precaution.

For those who have bought tickets to Erbil, Etihad Airways said cancellations and refunds will be free, whether the ticket is wholly or partially utilised. Ticketholders are being urged to call in at their local Etihad Airways office or call the contact centre on 02 599 0000.

ISIL militants destroyed ancient remains of the 2,000-year-old city of Hatra, in northern Iraq, officials said on Saturday. The militants also looted and bulldozed the ancient Assyrian city of Nimrud last week.

The attacks have forced airlines to examine their operations in Iraq for the second time this year.

After the Baghdad airport shooting, the GCAA sent a flight-suspension directive to all UAE carriers flying to Baghdad.

FlyDubai has since continued its Baghdad flights, the carrier confirmed, while Etihad’s service to the Iraqi capital remain suspended.

* With reporting by Reuters