ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Iraq will reopen its airspace on Wednesday evening after 40 days of closure caused by regional conflict, the top official from Iraq’s Civil Aviation Authority said, following the announcement of a two-week ceasefire between Washington and Tehran.
Bangin Rekani, acting head of Iraq’s Civil Aviation Authority, told Rudaw's Sangar Abdulrahman that "Iraqi flights will resume this evening, Wednesday, April 8, 2026."
The decision comes after weeks of disruption that began on February 28, when Iraq shut down its airspace amid escalating hostilities involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, forcing travelers to rely on land routes and halting a major international transit corridor.
The closure has also resulted in significant financial losses. “Before the closure of Iraqi airspace due to the US-Israeli war with Iran, approximately 750 to 850 international flights passed through Iraqi airspace daily,” said Maisam Safi, spokesperson for Iraq's Ministry of Transport.
“The transit fee for each aircraft passing through Iraqi airspace is $450.