Opening Iraq's airspace

[newswatcher]

From Reuters(12/8):

Iraq's Governing Council has granted permission for six international airlines to fly passengers and cargo to and from Basra airport which it said would reopen in a few weeks.

The Council said in a statement on Monday night it had asked Gulf Air, Royal Jordanian, Emirates, Qatar Airways, SAS and LOT Polish Airlines to prepare for a resumption of flights to Basra "at the end of this month or shortly afterwards".

International flights to Basra have been suspended since the 1991 Gulf War.

The statement said the reopening of the airport would represent "a huge step towards normalisation of ties between Iraq and the international community".

With the number of incidents reported on "the ground" this week, how can they be sure that resuming operations will be safe? Judging by the number of small-arms at large, wouldn't an air liner present a tempting target? How do pilots feel about going back there?


Mods could you leave this here for a few days for comment, before moving it to "Middle East" or "Airlines, Airports & Routes"

[MarkD]

LOT? Is this because of Polish troops on ground in that sector?

[robmac]

The airport is also the divisional HQ for the military southern sector, run by the British Army and well defended, the approach and departure flight paths are over flat terrain where it would be difficult (but not impossible) for an attacker to conceal themselves, and I guess some ground patrolling and aerial surveillance from coalition forces would be expected at flight arrival and departure times.

we have an office in Basra from which we are providing security services for some re-construction agencies. The level of incidents has become significantly higher as the honeymoon period comes to an end and public services appear to the Iraqis to be worse rather than better.

The CPA offices, which were renovated in Basra and were supposed to be publically accessible have closed and all CPA staff have moved in to the British Brigade HQ at Saddams Palace where they can be adequately protected from bomb/sniper/riot threats, but at huge cost to visibility with the community.

I for one will continue to fly in to Kuwait and drive across, until someone shows me ECM, decoys and other anti missile kit attached to their airliners.

robmac

[moggie]

BA have approval for Basra, too.

[Memetic]

Yet KLM is pulling out...

I read last week that KLM wre pulling thier restored services to Iraq on security grounds. (Travel weekly I think.)

A quick google tuns up:

http://www.iht.com/articles/105449.html

KLM Royal Dutch Airlines is canceling the flights to Iraq in September that it had put in its reservations system because American authorities there told the airline that the security situation was too unstable.

The article goes on to note others are planning routes but KLM looked to be fastest off the blocks.

[Jordan D]

Wasn't Virgin (or at least Branson) planning on doing something with these routes, or is BA pulling rank, so to speak?

Jordan

[Skylion]

BA has historically been the designated UK carrier to Iraq, operating into BGW as foreign airlines were not permitted by the Iraq Government to serve Basra. The route was never an easy one and did not make exciting profits as it suffered from serious peaking eastbound to Europe ( London and Paris the most popular destinations plus transit business to the USA) mid July to mid August followed by a similar return flow in the mid August to mid September (even the Iraqis didnt want to be in Iraq in mid summer with temperatures above 50C). Hence it was difficult to achieve much above a 50 % round trip load factor at the best of times. In addition there were constant difficulties/ very long delays in remitting money for tickets sold in Iraq. Virgins aspirations notwithstanding ,it is therefore reasonable that BA should have first bite at the cherry once it is possible to resume services. Even then profitability will be far from guaranteed.