Heightened security risks led to widespread flight cancellations across the Kurdistan Region’s two major air hubs on Saturday, July 25, as international carriers adjusted operational schedules in response to regional safety concerns.

Heavy Operations Impact in Erbil

At Erbil International Airport, 14 out of 26 scheduled commercial flights were grounded. Disrupted operations primarily impacted major international routes, including services connecting Erbil with Istanbul, Dubai, Doha, Amman, and Antalya. An inbound flight from Sharjah experienced significant delays with no confirmed rescheduled arrival time. Despite the disruptions, five flights successfully operated at the capital’s airport earlier in the day.

Limited Cancellations in Slemani

A similar situation unfolded at Jalal Talabani International Airport in Slemani, where two of the five scheduled daily flights were canceled, specifically those bound for Istanbul and Jordan. The remaining flights proceeded as planned, including a domestic service to Baghdad.

Carrier Suspensions and Current Airport Status

The regional air traffic disruption follows a decision by Turkish Airlines to suspend all inbound and outbound flights to Erbil through the end of July as a precautionary safety measure. Aviation authorities note that while individual commercial airlines have suspended select routes, both airports remain open and operational.