Iraqi start-up Al Haya Aviation (HA, Erbil) has taken delivery of its first aircraft, Skyliner Aviation has reported.

Formerly N859AS with ExpressJet Airlines, the cargo converted CRJ(F) YI-BAR (msn 7421) was ferried from Dothan to Erbil, Iraq via each of Portsmouth, Reykjavik Keflavik, Helsinki Vantaa, and Moscow Vnukovo over the course of August 17 and 18.

Al Haya Airlines is understood to be a Kurdistan-based carrier that, once operational, will specialize in regional operations.