NEW AIRLINE - Basra Airlines launches operations with arrival of first aircraft named Shatt Al-Arab

The Basra Airlines logo on the airplane at Basra International Airport.

Basra – Basra Governor Asaad Al-Eidani received the first aircraft of the newly formed Basra Airlines on Wednesday, October 15, 2025. The arrival of the plane, which has been named “Shatt Al-Arab,” marks the official launch of the new carrier, which will use Basra International Airport as its center of operations.

Governor Al-Eidani described the event as a “long-awaited dream” for many citizens of the city. The new airline is expected to open up wide prospects for Basra by providing direct links to the global aviation map, further cementing the city’s strategic importance as a hub for trade and transport, which is also home to the massive Grand Faw Port project. The establishment of Basra Airlines is seen as a key step in strengthening the province’s economic independence and its role in Iraq’s overall development strategy.
IraqiNews.com