May 13 - Iraq’s first private carrier, Alnaser Airlines began its daily flights from Dubai to Iraq last week and is running to its full capacity of 140 passengers. The airline is owned by an Iraqi national, Shaikh Hussain Al Khawam, who has collaborated with US-owned FK Gryphon Airlines.
The flight’s first stop was Kuwait, which was attacked by Iraq in 1991. "We wanted Kuwait to be the first [stop], to break the barriers between the two countries," said Executive Vice-President of Gryphon Airlines, Abdullah Al Tammar. The Dubai-Baghdad route follows the Baghdad-Kuwait and Kuwait-Najaf routes, with more destinations to come soon. Both Najaf and Karbala house shrines revered by Shias. "We are eyeing East Asia, particularly China, as well as Europe, with current talks on Iraq-Germany routes," said Al Tammar.
The airline has seven aircrafs at the moment, three of which are owned by Alnaser and the rest by Gryphon.