Gulf Air (GF, Bahrain International) resumed scheduled flights to Baghdad on Saturday, February 7, almost two weeks after an incident involving a flydubai (FZ, Dubai International) B737-800 forced it and several other Gulf-based carriers to suspend flights to the Iraqi capital.
In addition to consultations with airport and security officials in Baghdad, the Bahraini carrier said it had also conducted comprehensive safety and security assessments prior to the resumption of its 3x weekly services.
While Turkish Airlines and MEA - Middle East Airlines have since also resumed services to the Iraqi capital, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Air Arabia, and Qatar Airways are still awaiting the official go-ahead from their country's respective civil aviation authorities before following suit.
The flydubai aircraft, A6-FEK (msn 40282), sustained light damage from gun-fire emanating from the city's Al-Radwaniya area while on approach into the airport on January 26.
