Baghdad: Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani chaired a meeting to follow up on procedures for lifting the European ban on Iraqi Airways. A statement from his media office revealed that Al-Sudani met with representatives of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to discuss the ongoing efforts and strategies aimed at resolving this issue.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Al-Sudani was briefed by the delegation’s representative and the head of the Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority about the progress made so far. The discussion highlighted that 71% of the corrective plan, formulated in previous meetings, has been completed. The parties also deliberated on the potential signing of a memorandum of understanding between Iraq and IATA to further solidify their cooperation.

The meeting underscored the importance of air safety in line with the standards set by the International Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) program and the European Safety Agency (EASA). IATA representatives stressed the need for technical training courses to enhance understanding of aviation governance systems in Iraq and improve performance within the Air Operations Department.

Airport security standards were another focal point of the meeting, with talks on preparing a study for the development of Iraqi pilots. Additionally, efforts to align Iraqi Airways with air service providers, including those involved in cargo, ground services, and fuel, were discussed as part of the completion of remaining requirements.