Iraqi Airways clashes with MOT over inactive aircraft

Iraqi Airways to fight $787mn ruling against it in Cairo

Ex-minister wanted for frittering funds at Iraqi Airways

The investigation department of Iraq’s Commission of Integrity has issued an arrest warrant for Kadhem Finjan al-Hamami, a former transport minister accused of wasting state funds by sending Iraqi Airways (IA, Baghdad) employees to work in fake airline offices in three other countries.

The warrant was issued due to allegations of deliberate harm inflicted on the finances of the state-owned flag carrier.

According to a statement from the commission, a judge at the Central Anti-Corruption Investigation Court in Rusafa, a suburb of Baghdad, which specialises in examining integrity cases, “issued an arrest and investigation order against a former minister of transport in the case related to violations in the transfer of employees and their placements to work for Iraqi Airways in a number of cities.”

It elaborated that he had “placed employees in Spain, Sweden, and Tunisia despite the absence of Iraqi Airways offices in those countries.” It also noted that “the commission had announced on July 18 last year the issuance of an order to summon the accused in this same case.”

While...

Iraqi Airways to auction off two derelict Saddam-era B747s

Iraqi Airways (IA, Baghdad) will auction off two derelict B747s parked at Tozeur airport in Tunisia since 1991. The sale is slated for August 16, 2023.

B747-200CM YI-AGP (msn 22366) and B747SP YI-ALM (msn 22858) have been valued at USD494,000 each. All prospective bidders must put down a 20% deposit (USD98,800) to qualify as bidders.

Though sold on a voetstoots basis, the aircraft have been mandated for scrapping after Iraqi Airways specifically required any prospective buyer not use the aircraft "for any political purpose, reproduction or glorification of any personality in any way", presumably to present any form of Saddam commemoration. Should this condition be violated, the carrier reserves the right to confiscate the aircraft.

Powered by Pratt & Whitney PW JT9D engines, the B747s were manufactured in 1982 and were in use until 1991. During the Gulf War, the Baathist regime ferried them to Tunisia for safekeeping to prevent damage during the bombing of Iraq. Following the war, the United Nations ordered the aircraft be grounded pending the outcome...

Iraq's Global Airlines secures first aircraft, an A321