Accra:Transport Ministry Overflight traffic through Iraqi airspace has increased by 31% following the resolution of restrictions on prohibited airspace zones.

According to Iraqi News Agency, Captain Ihab Saad Kareem, director-general of the State Company for Airports and Air Navigation Management, reported a significant rise in civil aviation traffic since the announcement on September 18, 2026, that issues with prohibited airspace zones had been resolved.

The average number of aircraft crossing Iraqi airspace surged by about 31% compared to the period before the zones were reopened to civil aviation. Traffic continued to grow beyond the initial increase, surpassing early growth rates.

Restoring the airspace zones for civilian use has improved the flexibility of airspace management in Iraq and offered airlines more route options, facilitating smoother air traffic flows. Kareem noted that while air traffic indicators are affected by various operational and regional factors, current data indicates a positive trend in overflight traffic through Iraqi airspace.