Latest news with #Al-Safi
Shafaq News
2 days ago
- Shafaq News
Iraq, Turkiye deny airspace suspension
Shafaq News – Baghdad Iraq's Ministry of Transport dismissed reports claiming the country's airspace had been closed to aviation traffic. 'There is no closure of Iraqi airspace,' Ministry Spokesperson Maytham al-Safi told the Iraqi News Agency (INA), denying any suspension of flights between Iraq and Turkiye. Al-Safi confirmed that air traffic continues to flow through Iraqi skies and that the country's airports remain open to all airlines.
Shafaq News
10-06-2025
- Business
- Shafaq News
Iraq's railway network: Glorious past vs. troubled present
Shafaq News/ Iraq was once a pioneer in railway transport across the Middle East, establishing major railway links in the 1960s and 1970s that stretched from Basra to Baghdad and onward to Turkiye. However, today, this legacy of connectivity lies dormant. According to transport expert Basel Al-Khafaji, decades of neglect by the Ministry of Transport have left Iraq's railways struggling to keep up with modern standards. 'The historic rail line from Maaqal in Basra to Turkiye must be rebuilt with modern tracks to connect with the Grand Al-Faw Port, extending 400 km beyond Umm Qasr,' he emphasized to Shafaq News, warning that the failure to update this line not only erodes Iraq's passenger transport but also hampers its potential for commercial freight traffic. While experts point to long-term neglect, lawmakers are voicing frustration over the government's failure to translate plans into results. Parliamentary Frustration The Parliamentary Transport Committee has lambasted the government for failing to deliver on its transport promises. With the end of its term looming, most railway projects remain stuck in the planning stage. Haitham Al-Zurkani, a member of the committee, argued, 'Despite holding consultations with transport officials, the government has not kept its word. The Prime Minister must be held accountable for not meeting the program's targets, which include easing transport bottlenecks and modernizing rail infrastructure.' Al-Zurkani emphasized that Iraq's rail network is outpaced by regional and global peers, including neighboring Turkiye and Iran. 'In other countries, trains travel at 300 km/h, but we still rely on outdated lines,' he said. He also expressed concern over the incomplete railway link with Iran, noting that Tehran has finished its segment while Iraq lags. 'Rail freight would greatly reduce the need for trucks, especially once Al-Faw Port becomes operational,' Al-Zurkani said. Government Response Ministry of Transport spokesperson Maitham Al-Safi countered the criticism by highlighting recent progress. He told Shafaq News that 12 railway lines have been rehabilitated over the past three years. 'Last year, we opened the Saawa-Hujama project, and work is underway to complete other lines.' The Ministry is prioritizing the Basra-Shalamjah rail project, which will serve pilgrims and travelers heading to Iran. 'We have signed a contract with the Spanish firm Emathia, which is already working on demining and removing wartime remnants. We are now close to launching the project's main construction phase,' Al-Safi asserted. Beyond this, the Ministry is advancing the first phase of the 'Development Road,' aimed at revitalizing existing rail lines and integrating them with Al-Faw Port's operations. 'Rehabilitation covers the Basra-Baghdad corridor and will eventually link northern regions,' he said. Al-Safi also highlighted plans for a 36-km Basra-Shalamjah line, connecting to provinces including Karbala. Additionally, the government is evaluating a proposal for an 85-km suspended train project linking Najaf and Karbala. 'Several companies have submitted bids for the suspended train, and it's now with the Investment Authority,' Al-Safi outlined. The Ministry aims to finish detailed design work for the Development Road by year-end, after which the project will be opened to international competition.'We're dividing the project into seven segments to attract top global firms, all aligned with Iraq's strategic vision,' Al-Safi said. Al-Faw Port Progress Efforts to revive the railway system are closely tied to progress at the Grand Al-Faw Port, a flagship project designed to anchor Iraq's economic future. Al-Safi said that significant milestones have been achieved, including the completion of five berths and the 62-km access road. 'We're making progress on the submerged tunnel, container yards, and dredging work in the channel,' he said. Al-Safi expected these infrastructure projects to wrap up by year-end, establishing Al-Faw Port as a major gateway for the Development Road and a catalyst for Iraq's economic transformation. 'The vision is for Al-Faw Port and the railways to work in unison, opening up new opportunities for trade and reducing reliance on road transport,' he said. Whether Iraq's railway can reclaim its former glory depends not just on tracks and tunnels, but on political will, transparent investment, and a strategic shift from delay to delivery.
Iraqi News
10-06-2025
- Business
- Iraqi News
Mosul International Airport about to be inaugurated
Baghdad ( – The Iraqi Ministry of Transport revealed on Thursday that Mosul International Airport is now fully operational and open to any airlines with the appropriate licenses, following a successful trial run earlier in the day. The test flight involved the landing of an Iraqi Airways Boeing 737 on the freshly rebuilt runway, a significant achievement ahead of the airport's formal opening on June 10. The spokesperson for the Iraqi Ministry of Transport, Maitham Al-Safi, told the state-run news agency (INA) that the reopening of the airport represents a purely Iraqi accomplishment carried out under the direct supervision of the Ministry of Transport. Al-Safi stated that Iraqi Airways would be the first airline to operate flights to and from Mosul and that the ministry is willing to collaborate with other international airlines in compliance with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and Iraqi government laws. The Iraqi official stressed the strategic importance of Mosul International Airport to Nineveh province, Iraq's second most populated province. He characterized the initiative as a major improvement in linking Mosul with the rest of Iraq and the world. During his last visit to Mosul last December to check the progress made in the airport's construction, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani ordered local authorities to open the airport on June 10 to convey a statement of resistance against terrorism. Al-Sudani is expected to fly from Baghdad to Mosul International Airport to commemorate the airport's inauguration. Mosul International Airport, which was previously destroyed by ISIS terrorists, is the third most important airport in Iraq, following Baghdad International Airport and Basra International Airport. The date set by the Iraqi Prime Minister to open Mosul International Airport coincides with the date Mosul was occupied by ISIS groups.
Iraqi News
02-06-2025
- Business
- Iraqi News
Iraq advances major rail rehabilitation & Development Road project
Baghdad ( – Iraq's Ministry of Transport is making significant strides in rehabilitating its national railway network and advancing the strategic Development Road project, spokesperson Maytham Al-Safi announced. These efforts mark a new phase for Iraq's transport sector. Al-Safi highlighted the completion and reopening of 12 key railway lines, some after decades of disuse, including the Qayyarah refinery line in Mosul and the Baghdad-Fallujah passenger line. New projects are also underway, such as the Basra-Shalamcheh rail link with Spanish firm Imathia Construcción, vital for passenger transport. Additionally, 15 locomotives were rehabilitated in 2024. Regarding the ambitious Development Road, Al-Safi confirmed consultancy contracts have been signed with firms like BTP Engineering Consultants and Oliver Wyman for financial advisory. The project's route through 10 governorates has been approved, and cadastral maps for southern sections delivered. Full project details for the Development Road are expected by the end of 2025, preparing it for presentation to major international companies. These initiatives aim to modernize Iraq's transport infrastructure and boost regional connectivity.
Iraqi News
01-06-2025
- Business
- Iraqi News
Iraqi Airways to add 31 new aircraft by 2027
Baghdad ( – The Iraqi Ministry of Transport disclosed a plan on Saturday to expand Iraqi Airways' fleet by purchasing new aircraft. In a statement to the Iraqi News Agency (INA), the spokesperson of the Iraqi Transport Ministry, Maitham Al-Safi, explained that the ministry has developed a comprehensive plan to increase the number of aircraft through deals with major manufacturers. Iraqi Airways has received 13 aircraft, expanding the national carrier's air fleet, according to Al-Safi. Al-Safi illustrated that the aircraft Iraqi Airways received include five Airbus A220s, six Boeing 737 Max aircraft, and two B787-8s, known as Dreamliners. The Iraqi official stated that eight additional Dreamliners and 10 Max aircraft will be delivered, increasing the total number of modern aircraft purchased by Iraqi Airways to 31 by 2027. Al-Safi stated that Iraqi Airways has successfully returned 14 of the 24 grounded aircraft to operational status, emphasizing that the restoration of the remaining grounded aircraft is proceeding according to a set plan. Al-Safi added that Iraqi Airways currently owns 39 aircraft.
