ERBIL,— Aegean Airlines has launched direct flights between Erbil International Airport and Athens International Airport, marking a significant step in expanding air connectivity between Greece and Kurdistan region of Iraq.
The inaugural flight landed at Erbil International Airport early Sunday morning, receiving a ceremonial water salute, airport officials said. The aircraft, carrying 97 passengers, arrived from Athens at 4:00 a.m. local time. Shortly after, a return flight departed Erbil for Athens with 98 passengers on board.
Ahmed Hoshyar, director general of Erbil International Airport, stated that the new route will operate twice a week, on Wednesdays and Sundays. The flights are expected to enhance travel, trade, and tourism between the two regions.
The development was welcomed by Greek Consul General in Erbil Nikolaos Stergioulas, who highlighted the route’s role in strengthening ties between the Kurdistan region and Greece.
“We are pleased to see the first direct flight from Greece to Erbil,” Stergioulas said at a press conference. “This new connection will bring our people closer together and foster stronger economic and cultural exchanges.”
With the launch of the Athens-Erbil route, the Kurdistan region now has direct air links with 21 countries.
The new service is part of Aegean Airlines’ broader 2025 expansion plans, which include additional routes to Baku, Azerbaijan, set to begin on April 14.
The airline aims to enhance Greece’s connectivity with key destinations in the Middle East and the Caucasus.
(With files from Agencies)
Copyright © 2025 iKurd.net. All rights reserved
Related posts:
Saddam Hussein’s Enemies: Paving the Road to the Invasion of Iraq
Flight cancellations hit Erbil International Airport as demand dips
Azerbaijani airline’s plane shot down by Russia: sources
What makes a good NATO ally? The Case of Turkey
Iraq and China resume direct flights after hiatus
EU airline lands in Baghdad for first time in 35 years
Turkey lifts flight ban on Sulaimani International Airport in Iraqi Kurdistan
Air India plane crashes, killing 241 of 242 people on board
FlyErbil Business Class Review: A Disappointing Experience – Expert
Azerbaijan Airlines plane crashes in Kazakhstan, 29 survive
