Saudi carrier launches direct flight to Iraq after 27 years

Saudi budget carrier flynas launches a route from the Saudi capital, Riyadh, to Baghdad, marking the first direct flight between the two countries since the 1991 Gulf War.

The carrier posts on its Twitter account an image of the crew that took part in the inaugural flight, which took off to Baghdad just before noon today. In a statement, flynas says the flight reflects the importance of “brotherly ties and bilateral relations” between Saudi Arabia and Iraq.

It’s the latest sign of improved relations between the two neighbors. A number of high-profile Iraqis have visited Saudi Arabia in recent months, including a rare visit in July by Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.

بعد انقطاع أكثر من 27 سنة
ترحيب مطار بغداد الدولي لأولى رحلاتنا من #الرياض إلى #بغداد ????????❤????????#طيران_ناس pic.twitter.com/2pdSP7SmBN

— flynas طيران ناس (@flynas) October 18, 2017

Saudi Arabia is improving ties with Iraq in an effort to blunt Iran’s vast influence there.

— AP