ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – Iraq’s transport ministry on Sunday revealed that eleven European airlines have applied to operate flights to Baghdad International Airport, coinciding with the launch of direct flights between Berlin and Baghdad, as Iraqi airports work to regain their footing.

Director of the General Company for Airports and Air Navigation Management Ihab Saad Karim told the state newspaper that the growing European interest in operating flights reflects “growing confidence in Baghdad Airport’s potential and its ability to attract international carriers.”

Meanwhile, Eurowings, a German aviation company, is set to begin the Berlin-Baghdad route after Baghdad Airport meets the company’s requirements and technical and security assessments are completed, according to Karim.

Eurowings will operate four weekly flights between Germany and Baghdad starting in December, with two flights each from Berlin and Dusseldorf, Iraqi state media reported on Friday, citing the company, adding that “the new flights will be added to the existing flights directly connecting Erbil”

The director stressed that “the return of German and European carriers aligns with the Ministry of Transport’s initiative to bolster the standing of Iraqi airports and expand air connectivity with global cities and capitals.”

On Friday, Iraq announced it had officially ended military reservations of its airspace entirely, reopening the skies in parts of the country for civilian flights which have been restricted for nearly a decade.

Iraq’s perpetual security concerns have severely hampered its capacity to fully use its airspace for commercial flights. The country’s national carrier, Iraqi Airways, has been barred from flying to Europe since 2015 by the European Union, citing “serious safety concerns,” despite the continued efforts of successive Iraqi governments to lift the ban.

The recent developments mark a step toward restoring Iraq’s international air connectivity after years of conflict and sanctions, while the interest from European carriers could help expand the country’s air links with Europe.