| 2008: Iraq to buy 40 Boeings |
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February 14, 2008 Iraq will sign a contract with the U.S. Boeing to buy 40 of its passenger aircrafts and will re-open several airways between Baghdad and a number of Arab and foreign countries, Iraq's deputy transport minister said on Wednesday. "The ministry will soon sign a contract with the U.S. company to buy 40 Boeings of different sizes that will be added to the Iraqi Airways’ fleet," Bankin Rikani told Aswat al-Iraq, Voices of Iraq, (VOI). Iraqi Airways will receive the planes in 2013 and 2014, the minister said, adding that the contract is worth $6 billion. The minister revealed plans for re-opening several airways between the Iraqi capital and some Arab and European cities, including London, Frankfurt, Karachi and al-Manama. Established in 1945 in Baghdad, Iraqi Airways is the national carrier airline of Iraq and is one of the oldest in the Middle East. It operates domestic and regional services. Iraqi Airways is a member of the Arab Air Carriers Organization. |