(MENAFN- Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) IRBIL, March 9 (KUNA) -- Iraqi Kurdistan has seen a partial lift of a five-month ban on flights imposed by the central authorities in Baghdad five months ago.
The first international flight from the region left the Irbil International Airport late Thursday after Baghdad agreed to lift the ban on flights from the region's Irbil and Sulaimannyah airports, "exclusively" for Muslim pilgrims heading to Saudi Arabia for Umrah (lesser pilgrimage).
Some 150 pilgrims left the Irbil International Airport for Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on an Iraqi Airways flight, Media Officer of the Ministry of Waqfs in Kurdistan Nabz Ismaisl said in a press statement Friday.
UP to 4,000 people from the region will perform Umrah this yer, he added.
The ban was previously extended twice, the last on February for three months.
Kurdish officials said that had hit the region's economy hard and forced many companies to close down and lay off employees.
Tens of thousands of Kurds used to perform the Umrah every year, but the number has decreased over the past few years due to the economic crisis in the region. (end) sbr.msa
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