"Iraq's second international airport to reopen by next month"

Monday, August 11, 2003

Iraq's second international airport to reopen by next month
Agence France-Presse


BASRA, Iraq, (AFP) - Iraq's second international airport in the southern
port of Basra is to reopen in late August or early September, the head of
the US-appointed transitional Governing Council told a news conference here.


"The council has authorised five international airlines to serve Basra
international airport ... from late August or early September," its
chairman, Ibrahim al-Jaafari, said. 

He named the five as regional carriers Emirates, Gulf Air, Qatar Airways and
Royal Jordanian, and Scandinavian airline SAS. 

The reopening of both Basra and Iraq's main international airport in Baghdad
has been repeatedly postponed amid continuing use of their runways and other
facilities by the British and US militaries. 

Baghdad airport in particular has seen continuing attempted attacks on
aircraft, prompting a British official to announce last month that Basra
airport would be the first to open. 

The five airlines will be required to fly two services a week to Basra, but
they will be limited to a two-hour stop and will have no access for the time
being to refuelling or other services. 

Restrictions laid down by the British military, who still have a major base
at the airport, limit the number of flights a day to just three, two from
the Middle East and one from Europe.


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