BAGHDAD — Greece’s flag carrier, Aegean Airlines, will begin operating direct flights between Athens and Baghdad starting December 16, 2025, marking the first direct air link between the Iraqi capital and a European Union country in years.
The announcement was made Thursday by Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis during an official visit to Iraq.
“I believe this will significantly strengthen both our economic and cultural ties,” Gerapetritis said at a joint press conference with Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein.
First EU Airline to Resume Flights to Baghdad
Currently, no European airlines operate direct flights to Baghdad due to long-standing security concerns. However, Aegean Airlines’ move signals growing confidence in Iraq’s improving stability and international engagement.
A few European carriers, including Aegean, already serve Irbil, the capital of Iraq’s semiautonomous Kurdish region, but Baghdad has remained largely disconnected from European air routes since the early 2000s.
Iraq’s Growing Stability and International Presence
Following the fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime in 2003 and years of conflict that followed, Iraq’s aviation sector has struggled to rebuild. The rise and fall of the Islamic State group further hindered international travel connections.
In recent years, however, Iraq has seen improving security conditions and renewed diplomatic engagement. Minister Fuad Hussein said the new flight route is a sign of Iraq’s “growing stability and international standing.”
He added that Greece and Iraq are exploring new opportunities for cooperation in agriculture, investment, and tourism, noting that a series of visits by European officials underscores Iraq’s return to global relevance.
