(MENAFN) Türkiye's budget carrier AJet inaugurated direct service connecting Ankara and Baghdad on Tuesday, marking a strategic expansion into the Iraqi capital.

The airline will run three weekly frequencies on the new route—departing Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays—as it pushes deeper into Middle Eastern markets.

Following Monday's inaugural ceremony in Ankara, the maiden flight touched down at Baghdad International Airport after a two-hour, 35-minute journey, where it received a ceremonial water cannon salute upon arrival.

The Ankara-Baghdad connection represents the latest addition to AJet's rapidly expanding network, which now spans from European destinations through the Caucasus region and stretches across the Middle East into North Africa.

Operating from the Turkish capital, the low-cost carrier currently serves 35 destinations across 26 countries. By the close of 2026, AJet aims to penetrate nine additional nations and add 10 new cities to its flight map, signaling aggressive growth ambitions in a competitive regional aviation market.

The expansion comes as Turkish carriers increasingly target underserved routes connecting secondary cities across emerging markets.

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