The director of Sulaimaniyah Airport, Hindrin Hiwa, revealed the extent of the financial losses sustained by the airport as a result of the halt in flights with Turkey. In an interview with "Baghdad Today," Hiwa stated that "the air embargo imposed on Sulaimaniyah Airport since April 2023 has led to financial losses exceeding 10 million dollars," emphasizing that "the losses are ongoing."
He added that "the accusations directed at Sulaimaniyah Airport, claiming it is a passage for transporting military equipment, are entirely unfounded," noting that "the airport is civilian and not responsible for transporting military equipment." He indicated that "the airport management is ready for any investigation from any committee that visits the airport to observe its operations, as it is a civilian airport providing services excellently, and there are no obstacles except for the Turkish ban."
In April 2023, Turkey imposed a ban on travel between Turkey and Sulaimaniyah Airport until early December 2023, before extending the ban until last June, and then further extending it for another six months starting in June, following accusations against Sulaimaniyah and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan of allowing members and leaders of the Kurdistan Workers' Party to use the airport and transit through it.
Estimates indicate that the monthly number of flights to and from Sulaimaniyah ranged between 45 to 100 maximum, while the cessation of flights to and from Turkey has caused an overall reduction in the total number of flights at Sulaimaniyah Airport by 35%, according to a press conference held by the airport management yesterday.
