Sunday:
"Jet in first flight from Baghdad to UK in 20 years"
Today:
"Iraq's air dream to London turns sour"
The first commercial flight between Baghdad and London in 20 years has turned into a nightmare for Iraq after its national airline boss had his passport seized and a chartered plane was impounded.
The transport ministry in Baghdad on Thursday confirmed that Iraqi Airways chief Kifah Hassan's travel document was taken after papers were served by lawyers acting for Kuwait Airways, which says it is owed $US1.2 billion ($A1.3 billion).
The dispute dates back to now executed dictator Saddam Hussein's invasion of Kuwait in 1990, when, according to the oil-rich emirate, 10 of its planes were plundered after its airport had been seized.
Transport Minister Amer Abduljabbar Ismail was also on Sunday's flight, the first since sanctions imposed by the UN after Saddam's invasion of Kuwait came into effect.
I/C