ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - Sulaimani International Airport is preparing to receive its first flight from Turkey in the early hours of Monday morning after more than two years of suspended air travel between the Kurdish city and Turkish destinations.

Turkey first imposed the ban on April 3, 2023, stopping all flights to and from Sulaimani. The decision came amid tensions between Ankara and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), with Turkey accusing some political groups in the region of supporting PKK militants.

The ban was renewed several times, causing major economic losses for the Kurdistan Region, Iraq, and Turkey.

The director of Sulaimani International Airport, Dana Mohammed, told The New Region that a plane is expected to depart Istanbul at 10:30 pm Sunday, arrive in Sulaimani at 1:10 am Monday, and take off again for Istanbul at 2:40 am, adding that four flights per week are planned between Sulaimani and Turkey, with the possibility of adding more later.

In mid-October, the Turkish Civil Aviation Authority lifted a flight notice restricting access to the airport, with the Kurdistan Region Presidency announcing that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has agreed to lift the ban upon the request of Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani during their meeting in Ankara.

“On this occasion, we congratulate travelers and our compatriots and hope that in the near future, all airlines will reorganize their flight schedules to Turkey and other European countries and the world,” Sulaimani airport said in a statement after the lifting of the ban was announced.

The lifting of the restrictions came only days after the airport announced that Turkey had extended the ban until January.

Officials say the return of flights is expected to bring important financial and economic benefits to both sides.