Iraqi Airways seeks to bring forward Boeing deliveries from 2013 to this year
Iraqi Ministry of Transport announced a proposal to Boeing to bring forward the delivery of aircraft to accelerate the expansion of Iraqi Airways (Reuters, 18-Mar-2010). The carrier currently owns four aircraft and leases others, with orders for 55 aircraft from Boeing, including B737s, B777s, and B787s, scheduled to commence delivery in 2013. The carrier now has asked Boeing to commence delivery this year. The carrier will require an additional 200 pilots to operate the aircraft.
Iraqi Ministry of Transport: "I believe 55 new planes are good to meet the needs of Iraqi Airways till 2020, since we are expecting to be more open to the world. They promised us to study our demand, taking into account other airline companies, to see if they are ready to give us priority," Amer Abdul-Jabbar, Minister for Transport. Source: Reuters, 18-Mar-2010.