Erbil, Kurdistan-Iraq, -- When
you enter an international airport, you expect to see a giant
landing field with bulky aircrafts ready to take off, carrying large
number of passengers. This however is not the case at Erbil
International Airport.
Erbil’s airport is in fact a reconstructed military airport which
was originally opened for temporary use. However, there are
plans to build another airport that officials say will meet
international standards. The new and larger airport is scheduled to
be completed in 2007.
“The present airport is a temporary one. It was opened in order to
unlock a door to the outside world,” said Cameran Murad, who is in
charge of the airport’s public relations. It was not anticipated
that the airport would become so popular or grow so quickly, Murad
explained.
However, just a few months after its inauguration the Erbil’s
International Airport became a gateway to Europe, with flights to
Frankfurt and Stockholm available.
Now, the airport has about 30 flights per week to various countries.
More recently there are direct flights to Istanbul and Tehran,
despite the fact that Turkey and Iran do not recognize the Kurdistan
Region officially, there are direct flights from Erbil to Istanbul
and Tehran.
“It is business that motivated the opening of flights between Iraqi
Kurdistan and Iran and Turkey. The reality is that there are many
Iranian and Turkish companies in Kurdistan. The flights will make
the movement of these companies much easier,” Murad explained.
A small airport has its disadvantages. Taban Jalal, a nurse
travelling to Sweden, complained about flight delays. “When I
travelled from Sweden, the departure time was changed three times. I
had to find out by myself that the flight was delayed and that I
only discovered by coincidence”.
The airplanes are too small and the flights are always delayed. The
service is much poorer compared with other flights I have travelled
with, and at the same time, prices are too high,” said Shemal
Abdullah, restaurant owner.
Murad explained that for reasons of security, there occasionally had
to be changes to the timetable. He also explained that because the
airline companies were private, and used their own planes, ticket
prices were high.
“We allow every company to work with us.
In time there will be several companies that will have flights
available and this will create competition which will lower the
prices,” said Murad adding that a contract has recently beem signed
with Swedavia, a Swedish company to train the EIA staff-members for
improved service.
www.hewlerglobe.com Top |
® 