International Flight Lands in Basra

"BASRA, Iraq (AP) - The first international flight to land in this southern city in 15 years arrived here Monday, receiving a warm welcome from local officials.

A Sharjah-based Phoenix Air Boeing 747 arrived from Dubai with 22 passengers on board. The company will begin two flights a week between Dubai and Basra, Iraq's second largest city, officials said.

"Hopefully flights to Iraq will increase from the region and the world," said Basra's governor, Mohammed al-Waili, while he greeted arriving passengers.

Since the United Nations imposed economic sanctions in 1990 after Iraq invaded Kuwait, no foreign airline has flown to Basra. Iraqi Airways maintains a scheduled service between Basra and Baghdad, 340 miles to the northwest.

Since the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime, there have been plans to reopen airports throughout the country for international flights, but airlines have been reluctant because of attacks on planes taking off or landing in Baghdad, as well as high fees from insurance companies."
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