BuyantUkhaa From Mongolia, joined May 2004, 2779 posts, RR: 3 Posted (6 years 5 months 2 weeks 12 hours ago) and read 3290 times:
As of today, Austrian Airlines starts flights to Erbil in Northern Iraq. They reckon it'ss be a poplar tourist destination within some years as it is stable and safe:
Erbil, Northern Iraq
Austrian becomes first European airline to fly to Iraq from 11 December 2006
Erbil
Erbil in Iraq, is situated next to the Turkish and Iranian border. It is characterized by its unique location atop a 30-metre high plateau formed from the ruins of the city over thousands of years of history. Erbil is one of the oldest continuously inhabited centers of population in the world today.
Today, with a population approaching one million people, Erbil is the fourth-largest city in Iraq, and the fastest-growing in the country.
The schedule Vienna-Erbil-Vienna in detail:
Flight days Departure Arrival
Monday, Friday OS829 dep. Vienna 10:20 h arr. Erbil 16:05 h
Monday, Friday OS830 dep. Erbil 17:00 h arr. Vienna 19:05 h
One foreigner who thinks the scenery could be a big draw for tourists is Peter Katzlberger of Austrian Airlines. "In a couple of years I can imagine big tourist potential here," he says. "This is a beautiful country. You can compare the mountains to ones in Europe and there are lots of opportunities for skiing in winter."
Austrian Airlines is the first international carrier to start flying scheduled services into Irbil, with two flights a week from Vienna commencing on 11 December. "There's big business development in the region, I think the same will happen for tourism."
The Kurdish authorities are betting on more international airlines to follow suit. Next to the small airport in Irbil they are constructing a massive new terminal and runway - one rumoured to be long enough for even a space shuttle to land on.
Cedarjet From United Kingdom, joined exactly 14 years ago today! , 7707 posts, RR: 55 Reply 1, posted (6 years 5 months 2 weeks 10 hours ago) and read 3184 times:
I'd love to go there. I might take this flight and spend a couple of days. Would be very interesting I bet. Thanks for the info.
fly Saha Air 707s daily from Tehran's downtown Mehrabad to Mashhad, Kish Island and Ahwaz
BHXDTW From Eritrea, joined Feb 2005, 1086 posts, RR: 6 Reply 6, posted (6 years 5 months 2 weeks 9 hours ago) and read 3060 times:
Quoting BuyantUkhaa (Thread starter): one rumoured to be long enough for even a space shuttle to land on.
haha... great...next stop, lets asign it a state bird, flower and motto...
hahaha... onnnnnnly joking...
Taking bets here at work who the next carrier to start sked service to any part of Iraq will be...
Technically, in my opinion Iraq has 3 airports that could be used as mainline international airports... BSR / SDA / EBL..
I did here that BA (BMed or GB) were thinking of flights into Basra, but I guess thats on the back burner right now..
I think Erbil would attract more carriers than SDA for the time being due to its location and oil .. and safety (I think EBL is a little safer than SDA at the moment.. correct me if im wrong.. but I read this in a news article on Erbil)
BuyantUkhaa From Mongolia, joined May 2004, 2779 posts, RR: 3 Reply 7, posted (6 years 5 months 2 weeks 7 hours ago) and read 2971 times:
Quoting TriStar500 (Reply 2): I guess it's more like a destination for NGO- and other contract workers nowadays, which should be a great boost for a good yield on this route.
Most certainly. I just checked prices in March and a return costs €800 plus taxes (making €941,30 in total). Biz from €1739,30 so that is a cash cow indeed.