Iraq opens temporary flight routes linking Baghdad, Tehran FIRs

BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraq's General Company for Air Navigation Services has established temporary flight routes connecting the Baghdad and Tehran flight information regions (FIRs), the company announced. The arrangement took effect on July 23, 2026, according to Reuters data cited by the company. The new temporary arrival and departure routes will operate between the Najaf International Airport and airports in the Tehran region, with flights conducted above flight level FL195. The measures are expected to remain in force until approximately October 21, 2026. Ahmed Imad Ahmed, the company's deputy director general, said the routes were developed through direct coordination and a shared air navigation understanding between Iraqi and Iranian authorities. He added that the new arrangement is intended to streamline air traffic management and ease the flow of flights between the two countries. Ahmed also said flight times and fuel consumption would be reduced under the new routes, describing the move as part of broader plans to modernize Iraq's airspace in line with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) standards. The company said the initiative represents a step toward updating air traffic management and raising safety levels, with no further details immediately available.