Iraq lost at least quarter of a million US dollars a day after it decided to shut its airspace because of nearby hostilities between Iran and Israel.
More than 700 aircraft were overflying Iraq daily before the outbreak of the conflict and a large number of them have now been diverted to Saudi airspace and other countries.
The losses in service fees paid by foreign airlines do not include losses by the national carrier Iraqi Airways, which has halted most of its flights inside and outside Iraq.
A passenger aircraft using Iraq’s airspace pays $450 in transit services, while cargo planes are charged nearly $700, according to experts in Iraq.
“Since the airspace was shut in mid June due to the conflict, Iraq has suffered large losses,” said Amer Abdul Jabbar, a member of Iraqi parliament’s transport committee.
“Direct losses are estimated at more than $250,000 a day… this figure does not include losses by Iraqi Airways and the indirect losses of foreign airlines, Iraq’s airports and ground services in the country,” he told Shafaq news agency.
Figures by Iraq’s general company for airport services showed nearly 19,840 flights used Iraq’s airspace in May, making the country one of the busiest transit centres in the Middle East.
“Ground services in Iraq have also suffered large losses as no planes are landing at Iraqi airports… services offered to one of these planes could reach $4,000,” Iraq flight expert Faris Al-Jawari said.
US president Donald Trump on Tuesday morning declared a ceasefire between Iran and Israel. “The ceasefire is now in effect. Please do not violate it!” Trump said in a post on the social media network Truth Social.
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