Editing Iraqi Airways (section)

== History ==
[[File:Viscount 735 (Iraqi AW) at EMA.jpg|thumb|right|Iraqi Airways [[Vickers Viscount]] 735 at [[East Midlands Airport]] in 1978]]
[[File:HS.121 Trident 1E YI-AEB Iraq Aws ATH 22.04.73 edited-3.jpg|thumb|right|Iraqi Airways [[Hawker Siddeley Trident]]1E landing at Athens [[Hellenikon Airport]] in 1973]]
[[File:Iraqi Airways Boeing 747-200C YI-AGP LHR 1983-2-18.png|thumb|An Iraqi Airways [[Boeing 747-200C]] at [[London Heathrow Airport]] in 1983]]
[[File:Tozeur two Iraqi Boeing.jpg|thumb|Boeing 747 originally belonging to Iraqi Airways waiting in [[Tozeur–Nefta International Airport|Tozeur]] for a settlement with [[Kuwait]] since 1990]]
[[File:Iraqi Airways Boeing 737-200Adv N239US PRG 2004-10-17.png|thumb|An Iraqi Airways [[Boeing 737-200 Advanced]] at [[Prague Ruzyne Airport]] in 2004]]
[[File:Abandoned Iraqi Airways office.jpg|thumb|right|An Iraqi Airways building in [[Amman]], [[Jordan]]]]
[[File:Iraqi Airways Boeing 747SP Gupta.jpg|thumb|right|An Iraqi Government [[Boeing 747SP]] operated by Iraqi Airways at [[Andrews Air Force Base]] in 1989]]

===Early history===
Iraqi Airways was founded in 1945 as a department of the [[Iraqi State Railways]] and started operating on 28 January 1946 using five [[De Havilland Dragon Rapide]]s on a service to [[Syria]]. With the help of the [[British Overseas Airways Corporation]] (BOAC), the new airline ordered three [[Vickers VC.1 Viking|Vickers Viking]] aircraft. While waiting for the Vikings to be delivered, it leased four [[Douglas DC-3]] aircraft from BOAC in December 1946. In 1947, the airline ordered the [[de Havilland Dove]] to replace the Dragon Rapides; the Doves were delivered in October 1947. The three new Vikings were delivered at the end of 1947 and the DC-3s returned to BOAC. A fourth Viking was bought [[second-hand]].

In 1953, the four-engined [[Vickers Viscount]] turboprop was chosen to replace the Vikings and an order for three was placed in July. The Viscounts entered service in 1955 and operated all of Iraqi Airways' international services, including a new route to [[London Heathrow Airport|London]] with intermediate stops. On 1 April 1960, the airline was split from the railway company. In 1961, it placed an order for two [[Boeing 720B]]s for delivery in 1964, but the order was later cancelled.

In the 1960s, Iraqi Airways bought [[Russia]]n [[Tupolev Tu-124]] planes as well as [[Hawker Siddeley Trident]] aircraft. These jets allowed the airline to increase services across the [[Middle East]], to [[Africa]] and [[Europe]]. At the time, cargo [[aircraft]] such as the [[Ilyushin Il-76]] were also purchased. During the 1970s, Iraqi Airways needed a bigger jet for a new route to [[John F. Kennedy International Airport]] in [[New York City|New York]]; it purchased the [[Boeing 707]] and, soon after, the [[Boeing 747]]. [[Airfare]]s were kept artificially low through state [[Subsidy|subsidies]] under the Iraqi [[Ba'athist Iraq|Ba'athist government]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Chandrasekaran|first=Rajiv|url=http://archive.org/details/imperiallifeinem00chan|title=Imperial life in the emerald city : inside Iraq's green zone|date=2007|publisher=Vintage Books|others=Internet Archive|isbn=978-0-307-27883-8|location=New York}}</ref>

===Later history===
Attempts were made to restart domestic services after the [[Gulf War]] in May 1991, and permission was granted by the [[United Nations]] to operate [[helicopter]]s on limited domestic services. [[Fixed-wing aircraft|Fixed-wing]] flights were [[Iraqi no-fly zones conflict|banned]] under the ceasefire terms, although the [[United Nations Security Council|UN Security Council]] agreed to the resumption of domestic flights. These restarted in January 1992 from Baghdad to [[Basra]], using [[Antonov An-24]] aircraft. Operations were suspended shortly after, following a UN ruling.<ref name="FI"/>

However, domestic flights became a rarity too, because of the [[Iraqi no-fly zones|no-fly zone]] imposed by the United States and [[United Kingdom]] over Iraqi skies. During the 1990s, Iraqi Airways would occasionally fly pilgrims to [[Muslim]] [[Holiest sites in Islam|religious cities]].

=== Revival ===
After the [[Iraq War]], on 30 May 2003, Iraqi Airways announced plans to resume international services. The rights to the Iraqi Airways name were transferred to a new and separate company called '''Iraqi Airways Company''', which would establish a new airline and protect it from the legal problems tied to [[Saddam Hussein]]'s regime. Operations restarted on 3 October 2004, with a flight between [[Baghdad]] and [[Amman]].

Iraqi Airways operated the first domestic commercial scheduled service since the fall of [[Saddam Hussein]]'s regime, from [[Baghdad]] to [[Basra]], with 100 passengers in a [[Boeing 727-200]], on 4 June 2005. On 6 November 2005, Iraqi Airways operated a flight from Baghdad to [[Tehran]], [[Iran]], for the first time in twenty-five years. The aircraft, as with the rest of the fleet, was operated on its behalf by [[Teebah Airlines]] of [[Jordan]]. Services to [[Erbil]] and [[Sulaymaniyah]] were added in the summer of 2005.

In June 2009, it was revealed that Iraqi Airways had struck a deal with British aviation authorities to resume direct from Baghdad to [[Gatwick Airport|London Gatwick Airport]]; the flights were supposed to begin on 8 August 2009 using a [[Boeing 737 Classic|Boeing 737-400]] leased from [[Tor Air]] and would eventually have seen the [[Airbus A320 family|Airbus A320-200]] operating the route. This did not happen as planned, however. The airline said at the time that they intended a bigger expansion into the UK and Europe.<ref>[http://www.ttglive.com/c/portal/layout?p_l_id=61139&CMPI_SHARED_articleId=2613273&CMPI_SHARED_ImageArticleId=2613273&CMPI_SHARED_articleIdRelated=2613273&CMPI_SHARED_ToolsArticleId=2613273&CMPI_SHARED_CommentArticleId=2613273&articleTitle=Iraqi%20Airways%20to%20relaunch%20London%20route Iraqi Airways to relaunch London-Stansted]  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090628210651/http://www.ttglive.com/c/portal/layout?p_l_id=61139&CMPI_SHARED_articleId=2613273&CMPI_SHARED_ImageArticleId=2613273&CMPI_SHARED_articleIdRelated=2613273&CMPI_SHARED_ToolsArticleId=2613273&CMPI_SHARED_CommentArticleId=2613273&articleTitle=Iraqi+Airways+to+relaunch+London+route |date=28 June 2009 }}. Ttglive.com (22 June 2009).</ref>

In November 2009, [[Blue Wings]], a [[Germany|German]] airline, began operating flights to [[Düsseldorf]] and [[Frankfurt]], Germany on behalf of Iraqi Airways.<ref>[https://www.welt.de/die-welt/wirtschaft/article5261088/Blue-Wings-fliegt-direkt-nach-Bagdad.html Blue Wings is flying directly to Baghdad (German Only)] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120123121502/http://www.welt.de/die-welt/wirtschaft/article5261088/Blue-Wings-fliegt-direkt-nach-Bagdad.html |date=23 January 2012 }}. ''Die Welt''.</ref>

On 25 April 2010, Iraqi Airways launched flights to Gatwick Airport via [[Malmö]], [[Sweden]]. When the first flight landed in London, a [[Kuwait]]i lawyer had the General Director Kifah Hassan's documents and passport seized, as well as the plane itself. There were no developments, however, as the plane was owned by the [[Sweden|Swedish]] company [[Tor Air]].<ref>[http://www.ifw-net.com/freightpubs/ifw/index/bumpy-landing-for-iraqs-first-flight/20017772651.htm?source=ezine Bumpy landing for Iraq's first flight] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120225141724/http://www.ifw-net.com/freightpubs/ifw/index/bumpy-landing-for-iraqs-first-flight/20017772651.htm?source=ezine |date=25 February 2012}}. Ifw-net.com (31 July 2008).</ref> The plane returned to [[Baghdad]]. However, Kifah Hassan was not allowed to leave the [[United Kingdom]] and went up in court on 30 April.<ref>[https://archive.today/20120723000256/http://www.canada.com/Iraqi+Airways+maiden+flight+London+turns+into+nightmare/2965596/story.html Iraqi Airways maiden flight to London turns into nightmare]. Canada.com.</ref> Kuwaiti officials demanded £780 million for the planes stolen by [[Saddam Hussein]] in the 1990 invasion.<ref>McElroy, Damien. (1 May 2010) [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/lawandorder/7658857/First-flight-from-Baghdad-to-London-in-20-years-ends-in-farce-with-plane-impounded.html First flight from Baghdad to London in 20 years ends in farce with plane impounded] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100505075443/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/lawandorder/7658857/First-flight-from-Baghdad-to-London-in-20-years-ends-in-farce-with-plane-impounded.html |date=5 May 2010 }}. ''The Daily Telegraph''.</ref>

On 26 May 2010, Amer Abdul-Jabbar, Iraq's transport minister, said the cabinet had decided on Tuesday to dissolve the company over the next three years and pursue private options to avoid asset claims made by Kuwait over their 1990–91 war.<ref>[http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2010/05/2010526133236850746.html Iraq to dissolve Iraqi Airways – Middle East] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100606191730/http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2010/05/2010526133236850746.html |date=6 June 2010 }}. Al Jazeera English.</ref>

In February 2012, Iraqi Airways announced that it would resume flights to [[India]], with services to [[Delhi]] or [[Mumbai]] from Baghdad.<ref>[http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_iraqi-airlines-flight-to-land-at-mumbai-airport-after-22-years_1681691 Iraqi Airlines flight to land at Mumbai airport after 22 years – Mumbai – DNA] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120519025105/http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_iraqi-airlines-flight-to-land-at-mumbai-airport-after-22-years_1681691 |date=19 May 2012 }}. Dnaindia.com (28 April 2012).</ref>

In April 2012, it was announced that Iraqi Airways had ordered 40 new [[Boeing]] aircraft, the order consisting of 30 [[Boeing 737-800]] and 10 [[Boeing 787 Dreamliner]]. The first aircraft would be delivered in December 2012.<ref>[http://www.aknews.com/en/aknews/2/301173/ Iraq to deliver Boeing jets by end of 2012 | Finance] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120415081646/http://www.aknews.com/en/aknews/2/301173/ |date=15 April 2012 }}. AKNEWS.com.</ref> Airbus in early December delivered its first [[Airbus A330|A330-200]] to Iraq, while Boeing delivered a [[Boeing 777]] around the same time as well.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.arabnews.com/iraqi-airways-takes-delivery-boeing-777|title=Iraqi Airways takes delivery of Boeing 777|date=2012-12-16|website=Arab News|language=en|access-date=2020-03-31}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.airbus.com/newsevents/news-events-single/detail/iraqi-airways-takes-delivery-of-its-first-airbus-a330/ |title=Iraqi Airways takes delivery of its first Airbus A330 &#124; Airbus Press release |access-date=2016-02-07 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160623194308/http://www.airbus.com/newsevents/news-events-single/detail/iraqi-airways-takes-delivery-of-its-first-airbus-a330/ |archive-date=23 June 2016}}. Airbus.com</ref>

On 14 August 2013, Iraqi Airways took delivery of their first Boeing 737-800 directly from Boeing Company.

In June 2014, Iraqi Airways suspended services to [[Mosul]] due to the [[Fall of Mosul|capture of the city]] by [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant|ISIL]].

On 8 September 2015, Iraqi Airways received a loan of $2 billion from a [[Citibank]] to finance the purchase of 40 modern aircraft type Boeing 777 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-04-02/iraq-seeks-2-billion-loan-for-boeing-jets-with-citi-as-adviser|title=Iraq Seeks $2 Billion Loan for Boeing Jets With Citi as Adviser|date=2 April 2014|newspaper=Bloomberg.com}}</ref>

The airline opened a Request For Proposals (RFP) to European airlines with a valid AOC certification in late 2019. The goal was to obtain agreements to [[Aircraft lease|wet lease]] aircraft that can serve routes between Iraq and Europe.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/82549-iraqi-airways-issues-acmi-rfp-to-european-carriers|title=Iraqi Airways issues ACMI RFP to European carriers|website=ch-aviation|language=en|access-date=2020-03-31}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/networks/iraqi-airways-seeks-operators-to-serve-eu-routes/134868.article|title=Iraqi Airways seeks operators to serve EU routes|last=Kaminski-Morrow2019-10-17T14:52:48+01:00|first=David|website=Flight Global|language=en|access-date=2020-03-31}}</ref>

In 2019, Iraqi Airways saw the resumption of flights to [[Syria]], between [[Damascus]] and Baghdad.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://diyaruna.com/en_GB/articles/cnmi_di/newsbriefs/2019/05/17/newsbrief-02|title=Iraqi Airways to resume flights to Syria|last=Diyaruna|website=Diyaruna|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-03-31}}</ref>

Iraqi Airways is one of the few airlines that do not serve [[Alcoholic beverage|alcoholic beverages]] on their flights.<ref name="About ShawnVoyage">{{cite news |title=Alcohol on long-haul flights: How many refills is it reasonable to ask for? |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/comment/everything-you-need-to-know-about-drinking-on-a-plane/ |newspaper=The Telegraph}}</ref>

=== Livery ===
In 2008, Iraqi Airways received a single [[Bombardier CRJ]] in an adapted version of Bombardier's distinctive blue and white demonstrator livery with Iraqi titles and logos. The rest of the CRJ fleet was delivered in a version of the former green livery and YI-AQA was quickly painted to match. In 2012 Iraqi Airways adopted a new green livery which was applied fleet-wide.{{Cn|date=January 2025}}