Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis has announced that Aegean Airlines will launch the first-ever direct flight by a European carrier to Baghdad on 16 December 2025, marking a significant milestone in Greece–Iraq relations.
The new Athens–Baghdad route reflects a deepening of diplomatic and economic ties between the two nations.
Speaking alongside his Iraqi counterpart Fuad Hussein in Baghdad, Gerapetritis said: “I think this will substantially boost our people’s economic, but also cultural ties.”
Aegean Airlines already operates flights to Irbil, the capital of Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdish region, but had previously avoided Baghdad due to security concerns. The move follows improving stability and expanding international engagement in Iraq.
Hussein welcomed the development, noting that both countries are exploring new partnerships in agriculture, investment and tourism, and added that recent high-level visits from European leaders highlight Iraq’s “stability” and its “growing standing on the international stage.”
The announcement also coincides with Iraq’s plans to upgrade Baghdad International Airport, including a $764 million (€573 million) expansion contract with a consortium led by Corporacion America Airport and Amwaj International.
Iraq is meanwhile preparing for parliamentary elections on 11 November, with Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani seeking re-election – a rare feat in post-2003 Iraq.
Source: euronews
