Exclusive Iraqi flight permit system scrapped to open the way for business aviation
The Middle East Business Aviation Association (MEBAA) is today celebrating a decision by the Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority (ICAA) to terminate an exclusive flight permit contract which penalised business aviation.
There had been outrage in 2010 when a company named Palm Jet was awarded exclusive rights approval for flights to Iraq by the ICAA . MEBAA immediately demanded Iraqi government intervention over the decision to allow a single company to hold a monopoly over access rights to the country.
Ali Al Naqbi, the founding chairman of MEBAA said that business jet operators had seen the cost for permit and clearance for landing rise to $6,000 for aircraft with less than 10 seats and $8,000 for aircraft more than 10 seats. This compares to a previous cost of $200.
MEBAA has lobbied for this change and this week the Iraqi government confirmed that it had cancelled the 12-year deal with Palm to open the way for more business aviation movements.
"This puts Iraq into the scale of normal operations
," Al Naqbi said. "Business aviation is an important component in the development of the Iraqi economy. But it would not work if extortionate charges are being applied by a single company. It had to stop."
MEBAA used its links to the international business aviation council IBAC to raise the matter with ICAO.
Al Naqbi said: "This cancellation of the contract is clear result of the community of Business Aviation working together and stand by each other, thanks to IBAC for the support in raising this issue to ICAO level."
Iraq's Ministry of Transport has now advised that operators should apply through normal channels, either through the ICAA or through Iraq Airways.
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