Emirates will launch its first service to Iraq in February next year, but the launch route will be to Basra rather than the formerly planned Baghdad.The Dubai based carrier Emirates had announced back in May this year that it would serve the Iraqi capital of Baghdad from July, but the launch was subsequently delayed until further notice, due to "operational reasons" .


As an alternative, Emirates will now launch services to Iraq’s port city of Basra close to the border with Kuwait. The flights will set off on February 2, 2011, with a four-times weekly service on Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday (operated by three-class Airbus A330 aircraft), and Monday (in a two-class configuration).

Emirates has stated that the service connects impeccably with key industry hubs in the US and Europe. Announcing the new route His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline & Group stated that Basra is a momentous market for Emirates. He also added that the city’s latest growth has paved the way for copious multinational companies and industries to invest in infrastructure and have seen strong potential from a number of their markets.