Gulf Air will resume flights to Iraq 33 years after discontinuing flights to the country.   Direct services will operate between Bahrain and four cities in Iraq.    There will be seven weekly flights to Baghdad and twelve to the holy city of Najaf.  The Baghdad flight service will resume in September and the Najaf flights will begin after further work is completed on its airport. 

Increasing demand for service to Iraq, particularly from Bahrainis, has put pressure on Gulf Air to resume service.  Iraqi officials report that about 25,000 visas were issued to Bahrainis last year.  Gulf Air chairman said there is clearly demand for the direct service from Bahrain to Iraq.   Gulf Air, which was founded in 1950, first began flight services to Iraq in 1976.