The first flight from Türkiye in two and a half years landed at Sulaymaniyah International Airport on Monday, marking the end of a prolonged aviation halt.

Turkish Airlines flight TK 808 touched down in the early hours of Monday, November 3, to official welcomes, re-establishing a vital travel link. The resumption initiates a schedule of four weekly flights between the two destinations, facilitating both business and personal travel for a region where ties with Türkiye have been deep but complex.

The restart of regular air service is seen as a positive diplomatic and economic development for the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and Türkiye. It signals a potential thaw in relations and eases travel for the many who have been reliant on lengthier overland routes or connections through other airports.

The direct flight link is expected to provide a boost to trade, tourism, and cross-border family visits. Airport officials in Sulaymaniyah expressed optimism that the renewed connection would stimulate the local economy and strengthen cultural ties.

With four arrivals and four departures scheduled each week, the route offers a renewed bridge between the two regions, bringing a sense of normalcy back to air travel after a long and disruptive hiatus. (ILKHA)