Baghdad: The Ministry of Transport – General Company for Air Navigation Services announced today, Saturday, a record and unprecedented increase in the number of aircraft crossing Iraqi airspace, reflecting the country’s transformation into a breathing lung for international aviation.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, this progress is the result of sound strategic plans developed by the Iraqi government, headed by Mohammed Shia al-Sudani, and under the direct supervision of Minister of Transport Razzaq Muhaibis al-Saadawi, who closely followed efforts to develop air navigation and enhance its operational efficiency.

The General Company for Air Navigation has been able to develop its technical and technological capabilities in line with Iraq’s geopolitical importance, as a meeting point between continents, a bridge linking East and West, and an indispensable corridor for global civil aviation. The company has achieved a qualitative leap in the number of overflights, with the daily average increasing from 300 to 350, then to 450, then to 550 and 600, currently reaching more than 700 flights per day. This is a clear indication of the growing international confidence in Iraqi airspace, with expectations indicating that this growth will continue as a result of ongoing development efforts.

Abas Al-Baydani, Director General of Air Navigation, stated that the mobilization of the company’s human and technical staff has enabled the management of this unprecedented volume of air traffic with high efficiency and precision. Iraqi air traffic controllers have demonstrated professional skills that rival the best international systems, demonstrating the national readiness to deal with the changing challenges in international airspace.

Many European airlines, most notably Air France, have chosen Iraqi airspace as a primary corridor for their flights, taking advantage of Iraq’s central location and the reliability of its air traffic control services, which have proven highly efficient. Al-Baydani emphasized that the General Air Navigation Company continues to implement its plans to develop navigation services, in coordination with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and is working to modernize takeoff and landing systems at most Iraqi airports, in addition to enhancing the use of civilian airspace.

In a calculated scientific move, the company expanded civilian airspace at the expense of military airspace, providing wider and safer routes for aircraft to fly and allowing for the increased flow of overflight flights. Experts described this as a ‘qualitative shift in airspace management according to the highest standards of joint use.’