Austrian Airlines restart flights to Baghdad

Austrian Airlines began flying to Baghdad today, becoming the first major western carrier with regular flights to the Iraqi capital since service was curtailed following the first Gulf War, The Associated Press reports.Austrian says it will fly three flights a week between Baghdad and Vienna on Airbus A320 jets, according to AFP.

This first flight between Baghdad and Vienna will facilitate the arrival in Iraq of investors and businessmen," the Iraqi transport ministry is quoted as saying by AFP.Baghdad becomes Austrian's second Iraqi destination; It has been flying to the northern Iraqi city of Irbil since 2006, currently offering six weekly flights on that route.AP notes "many regional carriers, including Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways and Turkish Airlines, already flights to the Iraqi capital. But there are no nonstop passenger flights between Baghdad and western Europe.AFP says Austria's new service comes after several attempts by other western European airlines fell through.

Lufthansa the parent company of Austrian dropped its plans to begin flying to Baghdad in September because of poor demand, according to AFP.The news agency notes private French carrier Aigle Azur flew one ceremonial first flight but never followed up with regular service, reportedly because of safety concerns.And AP adds Stockholm based Nordic Airways launched commercial flights to Baghdad from Copenhagen, Denmark, in January 2009 but its operating license was revoked later that month.