View source for Iraqi Airways

{{Short description|Flag carrier of Iraq}}
{{More citations needed|date=February 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Infobox airline
| airline = Iraqi Airways
| logo = [[File:Iraqi Airways Logo.svg|150px]]
| image = [[File:Iraqi Airways Airbus A320-214 (YI-ARD) at Frankfurt Airport.jpg|250px]]
| caption = Iraqi Airways [[Airbus A320-214]] at [[Frankfurt Airport]]
| alt = Green bold text with the airlines name in English and Arabic.
| IATA = IA
| ICAO = IAW
| callsign = IRAQI
| aoc = 19
| hubs = {{nowrap|[[Baghdad International Airport]]}}
| bases = {{plainlist|
* [[Basra International Airport]]
* [[Erbil International Airport]]
}}
| focus_cities = {{plainlist|
* [[Al Najaf International Airport]]
* {{nowrap|[[Sulaymaniyah International Airport]]}}
}}
| frequent_flyer = SkyMiles
| alliance = 
| fleet_size = 40
| destinations = 50
| parent = [[Iraqi Government]]
| founded = {{start date and age|1945|6}}<br />[[Baghdad, Iraq]]
| commenced = {{start date and age|df=yes|1946|1|28}}
| key_people = Manaf Abdul-Moneim
| headquarters = [[Baghdad, Iraq]]
| website = {{URL|https://iraqiairways.com.iq/}}
}}

'''Iraqi Airways Company''' ({{langx|ar|الخطوط الجوية العراقية|translit=al-Xuṭūṭ al-Jawwiyyah al-ʿIrāqiyyah}}), operating as '''Iraqi Airways''',<ref>[http://www.aaco.org/airlines_iraqi.asp#a1 Arab Air Carriers Organization] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101023235530/http://www.aaco.org/airlines_iraqi.asp#a1|date=23 October 2010}}</ref> is the [[national carrier]] of [[Iraq]], headquartered on the grounds of [[Baghdad International Airport]] in [[Baghdad]].<ref>"[http://www.iraqiairways.co.uk/en/baghdad_office.html Iraqi Airways Office in Baghdad] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151028081320/http://www.iraqiairways.co.uk/en/baghdad_office.html |date=28 October 2015 }}." Iraqi Airways. Retrieved 6 March 2010.</ref><ref>"[http://www.aaco.org/airlines_iraqi.asp Iraqi Airways] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080518015038/http://www.aaco.org/airlines_iraqi.asp |date=18 May 2008 }}." [[Arab Air Carriers Organization]]. Retrieved 19 October 2009.</ref> It is the second [[Oldest airlines|oldest airline]] in the [[Middle East]]. Iraqi Airways operates [[Domestic flight|domestic]] and [[Regional flight|regional]] services; its main base is Baghdad International Airport.<ref name="FI">{{cite news |title= Directory: World Airlines |work= [[Flight International]] |page= 94 |date= 3 April 2007}}</ref>

== History ==
[[File:Viscount 735 (Iraqi AW) at EMA.jpg|thumb|right|Iraqi Airways [[Vickers Viscount]] 735 at [[East Midlands Airport]] in 1978]]
[[File:HS.121 Trident 1E YI-AEB Iraq Aws ATH 22.04.73 edited-3.jpg|thumb|right|Iraqi Airways [[Hawker Siddeley Trident]]1E landing at Athens [[Hellenikon Airport]] in 1973]]
[[File:Iraqi Airways Boeing 747-200C YI-AGP LHR 1983-2-18.png|thumb|An Iraqi Airways [[Boeing 747-200C]] at [[London Heathrow Airport]] in 1983]]
[[File:Tozeur two Iraqi Boeing.jpg|thumb|Boeing 747 originally belonging to Iraqi Airways waiting in [[Tozeur–Nefta International Airport|Tozeur]] for a settlement with [[Kuwait]] since 1990]]
[[File:Iraqi Airways Boeing 737-200Adv N239US PRG 2004-10-17.png|thumb|An Iraqi Airways [[Boeing 737-200 Advanced]] at [[Prague Ruzyne Airport]] in 2004]]
[[File:Abandoned Iraqi Airways office.jpg|thumb|right|An Iraqi Airways building in [[Amman]], [[Jordan]]]]
[[File:Iraqi Airways Boeing 747SP Gupta.jpg|thumb|right|An Iraqi Government [[Boeing 747SP]] operated by Iraqi Airways at [[Andrews Air Force Base]] in 1989]]

===Early history===
Iraqi Airways was founded in 1945 as a department of the [[Iraqi State Railways]] and started operating on 28 January 1946 using five [[De Havilland Dragon Rapide]]s on a service to [[Syria]]. With the help of the [[British Overseas Airways Corporation]] (BOAC), the new airline ordered three [[Vickers VC.1 Viking|Vickers Viking]] aircraft. While waiting for the Vikings to be delivered, it leased four [[Douglas DC-3]] aircraft from BOAC in December 1946. In 1947, the airline ordered the [[de Havilland Dove]] to replace the Dragon Rapides; the Doves were delivered in October 1947. The three new Vikings were delivered at the end of 1947 and the DC-3s returned to BOAC. A fourth Viking was bought [[second-hand]].

In 1953, the four-engined [[Vickers Viscount]] turboprop was chosen to replace the Vikings and an order for three was placed in July. The Viscounts entered service in 1955 and operated all of Iraqi Airways' international services, including a new route to [[London Heathrow Airport|London]] with intermediate stops. On 1 April 1960, the airline was split from the railway company. In 1961, it placed an order for two [[Boeing 720B]]s for delivery in 1964, but the order was later cancelled.

In the 1960s, Iraqi Airways bought [[Russia]]n [[Tupolev Tu-124]] planes as well as [[Hawker Siddeley Trident]] aircraft. These jets allowed the airline to increase services across the [[Middle East]], to [[Africa]] and [[Europe]]. At the time, cargo [[aircraft]] such as the [[Ilyushin Il-76]] were also purchased. During the 1970s, Iraqi Airways needed a bigger jet for a new route to [[John F. Kennedy International Airport]] in [[New York City|New York]]; it purchased the [[Boeing 707]] and, soon after, the [[Boeing 747]]. [[Airfare]]s were kept artificially low through state [[Subsidy|subsidies]] under the Iraqi [[Ba'athist Iraq|Ba'athist government]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Chandrasekaran|first=Rajiv|url=http://archive.org/details/imperiallifeinem00chan|title=Imperial life in the emerald city : inside Iraq's green zone|date=2007|publisher=Vintage Books|others=Internet Archive|isbn=978-0-307-27883-8|location=New York}}</ref>

===Later history===
Attempts were made to restart domestic services after the [[Gulf War]] in May 1991, and permission was granted by the [[United Nations]] to operate [[helicopter]]s on limited domestic services. [[Fixed-wing aircraft|Fixed-wing]] flights were [[Iraqi no-fly zones conflict|banned]] under the ceasefire terms, although the [[United Nations Security Council|UN Security Council]] agreed to the resumption of domestic flights. These restarted in January 1992 from Baghdad to [[Basra]], using [[Antonov An-24]] aircraft. Operations were suspended shortly after, following a UN ruling.<ref name="FI"/>

However, domestic flights became a rarity too, because of the [[Iraqi no-fly zones|no-fly zone]] imposed by the United States and [[United Kingdom]] over Iraqi skies. During the 1990s, Iraqi Airways would occasionally fly pilgrims to [[Muslim]] [[Holiest sites in Islam|religious cities]].

=== Revival ===
After the [[Iraq War]], on 30 May 2003, Iraqi Airways announced plans to resume international services. The rights to the Iraqi Airways name were transferred to a new and separate company called '''Iraqi Airways Company''', which would establish a new airline and protect it from the legal problems tied to [[Saddam Hussein]]'s regime. Operations restarted on 3 October 2004, with a flight between [[Baghdad]] and [[Amman]].

Iraqi Airways operated the first domestic commercial scheduled service since the fall of [[Saddam Hussein]]'s regime, from [[Baghdad]] to [[Basra]], with 100 passengers in a [[Boeing 727-200]], on 4 June 2005. On 6 November 2005, Iraqi Airways operated a flight from Baghdad to [[Tehran]], [[Iran]], for the first time in twenty-five years. The aircraft, as with the rest of the fleet, was operated on its behalf by [[Teebah Airlines]] of [[Jordan]]. Services to [[Erbil]] and [[Sulaymaniyah]] were added in the summer of 2005.

In June 2009, it was revealed that Iraqi Airways had struck a deal with British aviation authorities to resume direct from Baghdad to [[Gatwick Airport|London Gatwick Airport]]; the flights were supposed to begin on 8 August 2009 using a [[Boeing 737 Classic|Boeing 737-400]] leased from [[Tor Air]] and would eventually have seen the [[Airbus A320 family|Airbus A320-200]] operating the route. This did not happen as planned, however. The airline said at the time that they intended a bigger expansion into the UK and Europe.<ref>[http://www.ttglive.com/c/portal/layout?p_l_id=61139&CMPI_SHARED_articleId=2613273&CMPI_SHARED_ImageArticleId=2613273&CMPI_SHARED_articleIdRelated=2613273&CMPI_SHARED_ToolsArticleId=2613273&CMPI_SHARED_CommentArticleId=2613273&articleTitle=Iraqi%20Airways%20to%20relaunch%20London%20route Iraqi Airways to relaunch London-Stansted]  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090628210651/http://www.ttglive.com/c/portal/layout?p_l_id=61139&CMPI_SHARED_articleId=2613273&CMPI_SHARED_ImageArticleId=2613273&CMPI_SHARED_articleIdRelated=2613273&CMPI_SHARED_ToolsArticleId=2613273&CMPI_SHARED_CommentArticleId=2613273&articleTitle=Iraqi+Airways+to+relaunch+London+route |date=28 June 2009 }}. Ttglive.com (22 June 2009).</ref>

In November 2009, [[Blue Wings]], a [[Germany|German]] airline, began operating flights to [[Düsseldorf]] and [[Frankfurt]], Germany on behalf of Iraqi Airways.<ref>[https://www.welt.de/die-welt/wirtschaft/article5261088/Blue-Wings-fliegt-direkt-nach-Bagdad.html Blue Wings is flying directly to Baghdad (German Only)] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120123121502/http://www.welt.de/die-welt/wirtschaft/article5261088/Blue-Wings-fliegt-direkt-nach-Bagdad.html |date=23 January 2012 }}. ''Die Welt''.</ref>

On 25 April 2010, Iraqi Airways launched flights to Gatwick Airport via [[Malmö]], [[Sweden]]. When the first flight landed in London, a [[Kuwait]]i lawyer had the General Director Kifah Hassan's documents and passport seized, as well as the plane itself. There were no developments, however, as the plane was owned by the [[Sweden|Swedish]] company [[Tor Air]].<ref>[http://www.ifw-net.com/freightpubs/ifw/index/bumpy-landing-for-iraqs-first-flight/20017772651.htm?source=ezine Bumpy landing for Iraq's first flight] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120225141724/http://www.ifw-net.com/freightpubs/ifw/index/bumpy-landing-for-iraqs-first-flight/20017772651.htm?source=ezine |date=25 February 2012}}. Ifw-net.com (31 July 2008).</ref> The plane returned to [[Baghdad]]. However, Kifah Hassan was not allowed to leave the [[United Kingdom]] and went up in court on 30 April.<ref>[https://archive.today/20120723000256/http://www.canada.com/Iraqi+Airways+maiden+flight+London+turns+into+nightmare/2965596/story.html Iraqi Airways maiden flight to London turns into nightmare]. Canada.com.</ref> Kuwaiti officials demanded £780 million for the planes stolen by [[Saddam Hussein]] in the 1990 invasion.<ref>McElroy, Damien. (1 May 2010) [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/lawandorder/7658857/First-flight-from-Baghdad-to-London-in-20-years-ends-in-farce-with-plane-impounded.html First flight from Baghdad to London in 20 years ends in farce with plane impounded] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100505075443/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/lawandorder/7658857/First-flight-from-Baghdad-to-London-in-20-years-ends-in-farce-with-plane-impounded.html |date=5 May 2010 }}. ''The Daily Telegraph''.</ref>

On 26 May 2010, Amer Abdul-Jabbar, Iraq's transport minister, said the cabinet had decided on Tuesday to dissolve the company over the next three years and pursue private options to avoid asset claims made by Kuwait over their 1990–91 war.<ref>[http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2010/05/2010526133236850746.html Iraq to dissolve Iraqi Airways – Middle East] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100606191730/http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2010/05/2010526133236850746.html |date=6 June 2010 }}. Al Jazeera English.</ref>

In February 2012, Iraqi Airways announced that it would resume flights to [[India]], with services to [[Delhi]] or [[Mumbai]] from Baghdad.<ref>[http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_iraqi-airlines-flight-to-land-at-mumbai-airport-after-22-years_1681691 Iraqi Airlines flight to land at Mumbai airport after 22 years – Mumbai – DNA] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120519025105/http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_iraqi-airlines-flight-to-land-at-mumbai-airport-after-22-years_1681691 |date=19 May 2012 }}. Dnaindia.com (28 April 2012).</ref>

In April 2012, it was announced that Iraqi Airways had ordered 40 new [[Boeing]] aircraft, the order consisting of 30 [[Boeing 737-800]] and 10 [[Boeing 787 Dreamliner]]. The first aircraft would be delivered in December 2012.<ref>[http://www.aknews.com/en/aknews/2/301173/ Iraq to deliver Boeing jets by end of 2012 | Finance] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120415081646/http://www.aknews.com/en/aknews/2/301173/ |date=15 April 2012 }}. AKNEWS.com.</ref> Airbus in early December delivered its first [[Airbus A330|A330-200]] to Iraq, while Boeing delivered a [[Boeing 777]] around the same time as well.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.arabnews.com/iraqi-airways-takes-delivery-boeing-777|title=Iraqi Airways takes delivery of Boeing 777|date=2012-12-16|website=Arab News|language=en|access-date=2020-03-31}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.airbus.com/newsevents/news-events-single/detail/iraqi-airways-takes-delivery-of-its-first-airbus-a330/ |title=Iraqi Airways takes delivery of its first Airbus A330 &#124; Airbus Press release |access-date=2016-02-07 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160623194308/http://www.airbus.com/newsevents/news-events-single/detail/iraqi-airways-takes-delivery-of-its-first-airbus-a330/ |archive-date=23 June 2016}}. Airbus.com</ref>

On 14 August 2013, Iraqi Airways took delivery of their first Boeing 737-800 directly from Boeing Company.

In June 2014, Iraqi Airways suspended services to [[Mosul]] due to the [[Fall of Mosul|capture of the city]] by [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant|ISIL]].

On 8 September 2015, Iraqi Airways received a loan of $2 billion from a [[Citibank]] to finance the purchase of 40 modern aircraft type Boeing 777 and Boeing 787 Dreamliner.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2014-04-02/iraq-seeks-2-billion-loan-for-boeing-jets-with-citi-as-adviser|title=Iraq Seeks $2 Billion Loan for Boeing Jets With Citi as Adviser|date=2 April 2014|newspaper=Bloomberg.com}}</ref>

The airline opened a Request For Proposals (RFP) to European airlines with a valid AOC certification in late 2019. The goal was to obtain agreements to [[Aircraft lease|wet lease]] aircraft that can serve routes between Iraq and Europe.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/82549-iraqi-airways-issues-acmi-rfp-to-european-carriers|title=Iraqi Airways issues ACMI RFP to European carriers|website=ch-aviation|language=en|access-date=2020-03-31}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/networks/iraqi-airways-seeks-operators-to-serve-eu-routes/134868.article|title=Iraqi Airways seeks operators to serve EU routes|last=Kaminski-Morrow2019-10-17T14:52:48+01:00|first=David|website=Flight Global|language=en|access-date=2020-03-31}}</ref>

In 2019, Iraqi Airways saw the resumption of flights to [[Syria]], between [[Damascus]] and Baghdad.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://diyaruna.com/en_GB/articles/cnmi_di/newsbriefs/2019/05/17/newsbrief-02|title=Iraqi Airways to resume flights to Syria|last=Diyaruna|website=Diyaruna|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-03-31}}</ref>

Iraqi Airways is one of the few airlines that do not serve [[Alcoholic beverage|alcoholic beverages]] on their flights.<ref name="About ShawnVoyage">{{cite news |title=Alcohol on long-haul flights: How many refills is it reasonable to ask for? |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/comment/everything-you-need-to-know-about-drinking-on-a-plane/ |newspaper=The Telegraph}}</ref>

=== Livery ===
In 2008, Iraqi Airways received a single [[Bombardier CRJ]] in an adapted version of Bombardier's distinctive blue and white demonstrator livery with Iraqi titles and logos. The rest of the CRJ fleet was delivered in a version of the former green livery and YI-AQA was quickly painted to match. In 2012 Iraqi Airways adopted a new green livery which was applied fleet-wide.{{Cn|date=January 2025}}

== Destinations ==
{{Main|List of Iraqi Airways destinations}}

In March 2009, Iraqi Airways began its first flights to [[Sweden]] in almost 19 years.<ref>[http://www.thelocal.se/18522/20090328/ Iraqi Airways to Sweden!] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121003184359/http://www.thelocal.se/18522/20090328/ |date=3 October 2012 }}. Thelocal.se (30 December 2008).</ref>

In September 2009, the airline resumed flights to [[Bahrain]]<ref>[http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/NewsDetails.aspx?storyid=258784 Iraqi Airways resumes Bahrain] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403072231/http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/NewsDetails.aspx?storyid=258784 |date=3 April 2015 }}. Gulf-daily-news.com (3 September 2009).</ref> and [[Doha]], [[Qatar]].<ref>[https://archive.today/20121208202117/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gdlNBVqagau2ad8fwxPmTG6lWyyQ Iraqi Airways resumes Doha]. Google.com (11 September 2009).</ref>

In October 2009, Iraqi Airways resumed flights to [[Karachi]], [[Pakistan]].<ref>[http://www.iraqupdates.com/p_articles.php/article/59112/refid/MR-CP-LM-15-10-2009 Scheduled flights between Najaf and Karachi to start next week] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303195455/http://www.iraqupdates.com/p_articles.php/article/59112/refid/MR-CP-LM-15-10-2009 |date=3 March 2016 }}. Iraqupdates.com.</ref> The airline also started seasonal (Hajj) flights to [[Jeddah]].

After revealing the previous month that it had applied for rights to fly to [[Malmö]], [[Sweden]],<ref>[https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=ar&u=http://www.iq-airways.com/&ei=cj7rSuXyNsiMjAe9t72VDQ&sa=X&oi=translate&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CCIQ7gEwAg&prev=/search%3Fq%3DIraqi%2BAirways%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG Iraqi Airways applies for flights to Malmö, Sweden]{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}. Translate.google.co.uk.</ref> Iraqi Airways commenced flights to the city on 28 November 2009.<ref>[http://www.aknews.com/en/aknews/2/84730/ Iraqi Airways to start Malmö, Sweden] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120224190254/http://www.aknews.com/en/aknews/2/84730/ |date=24 February 2012}}. Aknews.com.</ref>
=== Codeshare agreements ===
* [[Conviasa]] (planned)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://aviacionaldia.com/en/2021/04/conviasa-iraqi-airways-code-sharing.html#:~:text=The%20president%20of%20Conviasa%20and%20vice%20minister%20of,service%20between%20the%20Middle%20East%20and%20Latin%20America.|title=Conviasa and Iraqi Airways in talks to establish a code-sharing agreement|website=Aviacionaldia.com|date=23 April 2021|access-date=April 23, 2021}}</ref>

== Fleet ==
===Current fleet===
[[File:Iraqi Airways, YI-AGS, Airbus A321-231 (30728990257).jpg|thumb|An Iraqi Airways [[Airbus A320|Airbus A321]] landing at [[Vnukovo International Airport|Vnukovo Airport]], Moscow, Russia (2018)]]
[[File:Iraqi Airways, YI-AQY, Airbus A330-202 (31817502202).jpg|thumb|An Iraqi Airways [[Airbus A330|Airbus A330-200]] landing at [[Atatürk Airport|Istanbul Atatürk Airport]], Turkey (2016)]]

[[File:Iraqi Airways Boeing 737-81Z at Munich Airport.jpg|thumb|An Iraqi Airways Boeing 737-800 at [[Munich International Airport]], Germany in 2015]]
[[File:Iraqi Airways Boeing 747-400.jpg|thumb|An Iraqi Airways [[Boeing 747-400]] in the new livery landing at [[Kuala Lumpur International Airport]], Malaysia in 2014]]
[[File:YI-AQZ JFK Landing 22L IA B777 29M LR Small.png|thumb|right|Iraqi Airways' single Boeing 777-200LR landing at [[John F. Kennedy International Airport]], [[New York City]], [[United States of America|USA]] in 2022.]]

{{As of|2025|8}}, Iraqi Airways operates the following aircraft:<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Global Airline Guide 2025 - Iraqi Airways |magazine=Airliner World |date=September 2025 |page=62}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto; border-collapse:collapse; text-align:center"
|-
|+ Iraqi Airways fleet
|- 
! rowspan="2" | Aircraft
! rowspan="2" | In service
! rowspan="2" | Orders
! colspan="3" | Passengers
! rowspan="2" | Notes
|-  
!<abbr title="Business class">C</abbr>
!<abbr title="Economy class">Y</abbr>
!Total
|-
|[[Airbus A220|Airbus A220-300]]
|5
|&mdash;
|12
|130
|142
|
|-
|[[Airbus A320-200]]
|3
|&mdash;
|&mdash;
|180
|180
|
|-
|[[Airbus A321-200]]
|2
|&mdash;
|&mdash;
|220
|220
|
|-
|[[Airbus A330-200]]
|1
|&mdash;
|24
|264
|288
|YI-AQY
|-
|[[Boeing 737-800]]
|14
|&mdash;
|12
|150
|162
|One leased from Tailwind Airlines
|-
|[[Boeing 737 MAX 8]]
|6
|&mdash;
|12
|150
|162
|
|-
|[[Boeing 737 MAX 10]]
|&mdash;
|10
|colspan="3"|<abbr title="To Be Announced">TBA</abbr>
|Deliveries from 2024.<ref name="Plan23">{{cite web|url=https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/124935-iraqi-airways-takes-delivery-of-first-b737-max-8|title=Iraqi Airways takes delivery of first B737 MAX 8|website=ch-aviation.com|date=28 February 2023}}</ref>
|-
|[[Boeing 777-200LR]]
|1
|&mdash;
|14
|350
|364
|YI-AQZ
|-
|[[Boeing 787 Dreamliner|Boeing 787-8]]
|2
|7<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=31 July 2024 |title=Boeing Commercial Orders & Deliveries |url=https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/salesoperations/viz/BoeingCommercialOrdersDeliveries_16788064876590/OrdersandDeliveries |access-date=17 August 2024 |website=The Boeing Company}}</ref>
|24
|242
|266
|Deliveries commenced in 2023
|-
|[[Boeing 787 Dreamliner|Boeing 787-9]]
|&mdash;
|1<ref name=":0" />
| colspan="3" |<abbr title="To Be Announced">TBA</abbr>
|
|-
|[[Bombardier CRJ-900|Bombardier CRJ-900LR]]
|6
|&mdash;
|&mdash;
|90
|90
|
|-
!Total
!40
!18
! colspan="4"|
|}

===Fleet development===
In May 2008, the Iraqi government signed a $2.2 billion contract with Boeing for 30 [[Boeing 737-800]]s with an option for an additional 10. It was also working on a deal involving the order of ten [[Boeing 787 Dreamliner]]s aircraft for long-range service.<ref>[http://www.boeing.com/news/releases/2008/q2/080505b_nr.html Iraqi Airways signs contract worth $2.2 billion with Boeing] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121012214750/http://www.boeing.com/news/releases/2008/q2/080505b_nr.html |date=12 October 2012 }}. Boeing.com (5 May 2008).</ref>

Another contract worth $398 million was signed for ten [[Bombardier CRJ-900|Bombardier CRJ-900ER]] aircraft with ten options.<ref>[http://bombardier.com/en/aerospace/media-centre/press-releases/details?docID=0901260d800200af Iraqi Airways signs contract worth $398 million with Bombardier] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120313091908/http://bombardier.com/en/aerospace/media-centre/press-releases/details?docID=0901260d800200af |date=13 March 2012 }}. Bombardier.com (6 May 2008).</ref> The first CRJ-900ER was delivered in October 2008. This resulted in a lawsuit against Bombardier by [[Kuwait Airways]]. Kuwait claims to have won $1.2 billion in judgments against Iraqi Airways as a result of the Gulf War. The Canadian judge ruled that he did not have jurisdiction because the case involved a foreign government, given that the purchaser of the aircraft was the government of Iraq, not Iraqi Airways.<ref>[http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5j2ve0tpLrEltvc1u1JGsCBwzYYwQ Kuwait Airways files lawsuit against Bombardier] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081013110407/http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5j2ve0tpLrEltvc1u1JGsCBwzYYwQ |date=13 October 2008 }}</ref> The lawsuit by Kuwait Airways was settled in 2009, with Iraq agreeing to pay $300 million.<ref>[http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,24963127-5005961,00.html Lawsuit is settled with Iraqi paying $300 million]{{dead link|date=November 2012}}</ref>

In February 2010, Iraqi Airways announced major fleet plans, including converting 10 of the 30 orders for the Boeing 737-800 to additional wide bodies as well as bringing the delivery date forward to September 2011, and changing the 10 Boeing 787 Dreamliner orders to [[Boeing 777]] aircraft.<ref>[http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story_channel.jsp?channel=comm&id=news/awx/2010/02/18/awx_02_18_2010_p0-205520.xml&headline=Iraqi%20Airways%20Eyes%20Fleet%20Adjustments Iraqi Airways major fleet plans]{{Dead link|date=August 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}. Aviationweek.com (18 February 2010).</ref>

===Former fleet===
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[Airbus A300|Airbus A300B4-203]]
* [[Airbus A300|Airbus A300-600RF]]
* [[Antonov An-12|Antonov An-12BP]]
* [[Antonov An-24]]
* [[Boeing 707|Boeing 707-320C]]
* [[Boeing 720|Boeing 720-051B]]{{cn|date=November 2025}}
* [[Boeing 727|Boeing 727-200]]
* [[Boeing 737|Boeing 737-200]]
* [[Boeing 737 Classic|Boeing 737-300]]
* [[Boeing 737 Classic|Boeing 737-400]]
* [[Boeing 737 Classic|Boeing 737-700]]
* [[Boeing 747|Boeing 747-200C]]
* [[Boeing 747|Boeing 747-200F]]
* [[Boeing 747|Boeing 747-400]]
* [[Boeing 747SP]]
* [[Boeing 757|Boeing 757-200]]
* [[Boeing 767|Boeing 767-200]]
* [[Boeing 767|Boeing 767-300ER]]
* [[de Havilland Dove]]
* [[de Havilland Dragon Rapide]]
* [[Fokker 70]]
* [[Hawker Siddeley Trident|Hawker Siddeley HS-121 Trident 1E]]
* [[Ilyushin Il-76|Ilyushin Il-76MD]]
* [[Lockheed JetStar|Lockheed L-1329 Jetstar]]
* [[McDonnell Douglas DC-10|McDonnell Douglas DC-10-10]]
* [[Tupolev Tu-124|Tupolev Tu-124V]]
* [[Tupolev Tu-134]]
* [[Vickers VC.1 Viking]]
* [[Vickers Viscount]]
{{div col end}}

Five Kuwait Airways [[Airbus A310|Airbus A310-200s]] were seized in 1990 and re-registered in Iraq as part of Iraqi Airways; however, these never flew any commercial flights for the airline.{{Cn|date=January 2025}} Iraqi Airways also ordered five Airbus A310-300s in the late 1980s, but war-related sanctions prevented their delivery.{{Cn|date=January 2025}}

== Accidents and incidents ==
{{more citations needed section|date=March 2015}}
Iraqi Airways was subject to fatal incidents with the last occurring on 25 December 1986. In the modern day, it has seen significant improvements in its fleet and operations. The airline has had the following incidents, accidents, and hijackings since it began operations in 1945:<ref>[https://asn.flightsafety.org/database/operators/5956 Iraqi Airways incidents and accidents]. Aviation-safety.net (4 March 2012).</ref>
* On 4 February 1955, [[de Havilland Dove]] YI-ABJ crashed following an engine fire in [[El Mansouria, Iraq|Al-Mansuriya]], Iraq.
* On 10 October 1955, a [[Vickers VC.1 Viking|Vickers 644 Viking 1B]] overran the runway at Baghdad and crashed into a ditch, where it caught fire. All nineteen passengers and crew survived, but the aircraft was [[Write-off|written off]].
* On 19 March 1965, a [[Vickers Viscount|Vickers 773 Viscount]] crashed into a row of lamp posts at Cairo after a flight from Baghdad. All passengers and crew survived, but the aircraft was written off.
* On 17 April 1973, a [[Vickers Viscount|Vickers 735 Viscount]] performed a [[belly landing]] at [[Mosul International Airport]] after [[Fuel starvation|running out of fuel]]. All 33 passengers and crew survived, but the aircraft was written off.
* On 1 March 1975, a [[Boeing 737|Boeing 737-200]] flying from Mosul to Baghdad was hijacked by three hijackers. There was one death on board, a hijacker.
* On 23 September 1980, a day after the start of the [[Iran-Iraq War]], an [[Ilyushin Il-76]] cargo aircraft flying from Paris to Baghdad crashed while on approach to [[Baghdad International Airport]]. It is believed the aircraft was shot down by Iranian fighter jets.
* On 24 September 1980, an [[Antonov An-24|Antonov An-24TV]] was reportedly destroyed on the ground at [[Kirkuk Airport]] during heavy fighting.
* On 22 April 1982, an [[Antonov An-24|Antonov An-24B]] crashed while on approach to an Iraqi airfield. The left-wing hit the ground, causing the aircraft to crash. 
* On 28 August 1982, the undercarriage of an [[Antonov An-24|Antonov An-24TV]] collapsed on [[takeoff]] from [[Tallil Air Base|Nasiriyah Airport]]. Everyone on board survived, but the aircraft was written off.
* On 16 September 1984, Iraqi Airways Flight 123, a [[Boeing 737|Boeing 737-200C]] flying from [[Larnaca]] to Baghdad, was hijacked by three hijackers. All the passengers and crew survived.
* On 25 December 1986, [[Iraqi Airways Flight 163]], a [[Boeing 737|Boeing 737-200C]] flying from Baghdad to Amman experienced a hijack attempt while flying over Saudi Arabia. Four hijackers tried to enter the cockpit as the aircraft was flying at [[Flight level|FL260]]. Two explosions went off, resulting in a crash near [[Arar, Saudi Arabia]] killing 63 of the 106 on board.
* During the [[Persian Gulf War]], two Iraqi Airways [[Tupolev Tu-124|Tupolev Tu-124Vs]] parked on the ground were destroyed by U.S. bombs.
* On July 3, 2019, an Iraqi Airways Airbus A320-200, registration YI-ARA, was performing flight IA-239 from Sulaimaniyah to London Gatwick with a stop in Sofia, carrying 78 passengers and 9 crew. When the aircraft was descending toward Sofia, the crew reported a cracked right hand windshield and requested a quick landing, however, no emergency or priority was requested. The aircraft landed on Sofia's runway 09 about 10 minutes later.
* On 27 August 2023, an Iraqi Airways Boeing 737-800, registration YI-ASW, performing flight IA-3202 from [[Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport|Medina]] to [[Sulaymaniyah International Airport|Sulaymaniyah]], was on approach to Sulaymaniyah when a bird impacted the nose cone of the aircraft. The aircraft continued for a safe landing on Sulaymaniyah's runway 31. The aircraft remained on the ground in Sulaymaniyah for about 18.5 hours before returning to service.
* On 11 September 2023, a ground vehicle hit and damaged the left wing of a new Iraqi Airways [[Boeing 737 Max|Boeing 737 Max 8]] (registration YI-ASY, which had been delivered in July 2023) at [[Baghdad International Airport]], causing a fuel leak. The plane was grounded until 1 December. The aircraft underwent temporary repairs by the airline's maintenance staff, before being transferred to [[Southern California Logistics Airport]], where the final repair of its left wing was carried out. By 1 January 2024 YI-ASY had been returned to service.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-01-01 |title=(Iraqi Airways returns a MAX aircraft to service)الخطوط الجوية العراقية تعيد طائرة من طراز MAX إلى الخدمة - Observer Iraq |url=https://observeriraq.net/%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%ae%d8%b7%d9%88%d8%b7-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%ac%d9%88%d9%8a%d8%a9-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b9%d8%b1%d8%a7%d9%82%d9%8a%d8%a9-%d8%aa%d8%b9%d9%8a%d8%af-%d8%b7%d8%a7%d8%a6%d8%b1%d8%a9-%d9%85%d9%86-%d8%b7/ |access-date=2024-01-30 |language=ar}}</ref><ref name="Flightradar24 z039">{{cite web | title=Airplane: YI-ASY | website=Flightradar24 | url=https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/yi-asy | access-date=2023-12-27}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{commons category-inline|Iraqi Airways}}
* [http://iraqiairways.com.iq/ Iraqi Airways Official English Website] {{in lang|en}}
* [http://www.iraqiairways.co.uk/ Iraqi Airways Official UK Website] {{in lang|en}}
* [http://ia.gov.iq/ Iraqi Airways Official Arabic Website] {{in lang|ar}}
* [http://www.ia.gov.iq Iraqi Airways Company Website- Ministry of Transportation]
* [https://iraqiairways.co Iraqi Airways Website (Unknown)] (in Arabic)
*[https://booking.sita.aero/itd/itd/ SITA E-Commerce (Official Iraqi Airways booking website)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403173154/https://booking.sita.aero/itd/itd/ |date=3 April 2019 }}
{{Portalbar|Iraq|Companies|Aviation}}
{{Airlines of Iraq}}
{{Arab Air Carriers Organization}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Iraqi Airways| ]]
[[Category:Airlines of Iraq]]
[[Category:Airlines banned in the European Union]]
[[Category:Arab Air Carriers Organization members]]
[[Category:Airlines established in 1946]]
[[Category:Government-owned airlines]]
[[Category:Government-owned companies of Iraq]]
[[Category:1946 establishments in Iraq]]
[[Category:Iraqi brands]]