Iraq loses seat on Arab Civil Aviation Organization board after skipping Rabat meeting

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq has lost its seat on the board of the Arab Civil Aviation Organization after failing to send a representative to the body's general assembly in Rabat on June 30, 2026, according to the Turkish-language source reporting the development. In a secret ballot among member states, 11 Arab countries were elected to the board for the new term. Iraq, which had held a board seat for years, did not appear on the final list of elected members. The board is regarded as a platform for setting common civil aviation policies and coordination among Arab states. Iraq had previously participated regularly in the organization's meetings and technical committees, and its membership was seen as supporting cooperation with Arab civil aviation authorities and strengthening Iraq's standing with the International Civil Aviation Organization. The loss of the seat comes as Iraq's civil aviation sector faces growing regulatory and operational challenges, according to the source. No further details on Iraq's next steps or any potential response from Iraqi authorities were immediately available.