1st Omani flight lands in Iraq after 20-year hiatus

By Mohammad Abdullah

BAGHDAD (AA) – An Omani flight landed at Iraq's Baghdad airport on Thursday, the first in two decades, according to the Iraqi Transport Ministry.

A ministry statement said the Airbus passenger plane arrived in the Iraqi capital from Muscat International Airport, marking the resumption of flights between Iraq and Oman since the US invasion in 2003.

“Flights will be flown between Iraq and Oman daily during the annual Arbaeen pilgrimage,” Abbas Sabbar al-Baydani, director of the General Company for Air Navigation Services, said in the statement.

The Arbaeen pilgrimage, the largest religious ritual for Shia Muslims, takes place 40 days after Ashura, the day famous for the tragic event of Karbala, when Hussain, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad, was killed on Oct. 10, 680.

“After the pilgrimage, three direct flights will be launched between Baghdad and Muscat weekly,” al-Baydani said.
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*Writing by Ahmed Asmar