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Austrian Airlines soars ahead with more
flights to Kurdistan
19.2.2007 |
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February 19, 2007
Erbil, Kurdistan region (Iraq), -- Austrian
Airlines, the first European carrier to fly to Iraq,
is adding flights to its new service to Kurdistan as
western diplomats and businessmen flock to this
thriving and relatively stable region.
In December, the airline became the first European
carrier to fly to Erbil, the capital of Kurdistan,
in the north of Iraq.
In a land where the Kurdish flag flies over the
airport and where a separate Kurdish visa is
required, the Vienna-based carrier decided this
province was far from the violence that has wreaked
havoc in the southern part of the country.
Safety measures
"Our European passengers would not travel with us
unless it was 100 per cent safe," said Karim Al
Sanadily, Austrian's regional manager for the Gulf
and Lebanon. |
Austrian Airlines |
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Although violence is unheard of in Kurdistan, the
carrier liaises with local military and safety
experts on a daily basis to ensure flight safety.
Armed guards accompanied the first gaggle of
journalists who flew with Austrian as they toured
the city last month. They witnessed how the city is
undergoing a transformation as construction cranes
dot the skyline and locals complain of soaring land
prices. The area has even become a magnet for
southern Iraqis seeking work.
The local government even has a public relations
campaign entitled "Kurdistan: The Other Iraq."
The carrier first secured air traffic rights in
2005, but it took another year to conduct all the
route planning and safety analysis required for such
a service.
In the summer, Austrian will increase its frequency
from two flights a week to three on its Airbus A319
under a two-class configuration carrying 180
passengers.
Austrian recently started flights to Amman and
Beirut, and is considering opening service from its
hub in Vienna to Jeddah, Riyadh and Bahrain.
As the only Western carrier flying to Erbil, the
unofficial gateway of Iraq for many businessmen and
government and UN officials, the airline said the
route is highly profitable after two months of
service.
gulfnews com
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