Over 1,200 Flights Canceled in Erbil and Sulaymaniyah Amid Regional Airspace Crisis

Peregraf

More than 1,200 flights have been canceled in the Kurdistan Region over the past 10 days, following the closure of Iraqi airspace due to the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran, according to the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).

“A total of 1,283 flights have been canceled in the past 10 days following the closure of Iraqi airspace due to the war between Israel and Iran,” said Dylan Rashad, spokesperson for the KRG’s Ministry of Transportation.

Erbil International Airport bore the brunt of the disruption, with 1,184 flights canceled, while Sulaymaniyah International Airport reported only 99 cancellations. The stark disparity highlights the long-term impact of Turkish airspace restrictions on Sulaymaniyah, which have drastically limited its international operations.

In the affected period, over 92% of the region’s scheduled flights were through Erbil, compared to only 8% via Sulaymaniyah.

The widespread flight cancellations stranded thousands of travelers abroad. In response, the KRG launched an emergency repatriation effort to bring citizens home safely. So far, the government has facilitated the return of 13,001 people, including large numbers of pilgrims returning from Saudi Arabia and citizens stuck in Iran.

The coordinated effort involved the Ministry of Interior, Department of Foreign Relations, and the Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs. A hotline and online registration form were launched to identify and assist those in need. For travelers transiting through Turkey, temporary three-day visas were secured in collaboration with Turkish authorities.

Among those repatriated, 5,000 citizens returning from Iran have already crossed back into the Kurdistan Region through land routes.

The KRG emphasized that the repatriation mission is ongoing and urged any citizens still stranded abroad to contact designated government channels for assistance.