Iraqi Airways resumes international flights after 14 years

[Khephra]

BAGHDAD : National carrier Iraqi Airways resumed international commercial flights for the first time in 14 years, flying between Amman, Baghdad and Damascus, although with few passengers on board.

The white and green striped Iraqi Airways plane from Amman touched down on the dull grey tarmac of Baghdad international airport at 11:00 am (0700 GMT) in the blue haze of a September morning.

But it was an inauspicious return to the skies for Iraqi Airways. On that first flight there were no passengers at all, because the resumption of operations was announced too late for tickets to be sold, said airline official Fathi Nassar.

snip.............

The company has one functioning Boeing 737 plane, a survivor of Iraq's years-long status as an international pariah.

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_world_business/view/107352/1/.html

[whistle]

1. What routes are they flying so I can avoid them.....

...give me a break! We have how many cities and towns now in Iraq that have reverted back to the resistance fighters? These planes are potential bombs no matter how you look at this.

[leftchick]

2. Unfortunately The airport road is closed for a while....

Until they clean up the blown up humvees and dead US soldiers....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x837147



U.S. soldiers investigate after a car bomb exploded as a U.S. military convoy was passing by in Baghdad, Iraq (news - web sites), Saturday Sept. 18, 2004. Three soldiers were wounded in the attack, the military said. (AP Photo/Khalid Mohammed)

[Newsjock]

3. Well, that settles it for me!

If we can get Iraqi Airways running again, those 1,000 soldiers' lives were worth it to me! Where's the voter registration office... I'm switchin' to the GOP!

:)

Do they really think anyone will fall for this refried crap? Wait... don't answer that.

[Cooley Hurd]

4. Just like the Iraqi Olympic soccer team...

...that practically issued death threats against Bush.

Iraq's back to normal (the new normal, that is...):eyes:

[saigon68]

5. THE ROAD TO THE AIRPORT

IS TEMPORAILY OUT OF ORDER