Iraq's national carrier Iraqi Airways will resume international flights tomorrow after 14 years of being grounded by war and sanctions.
The airline said it will launch scheduled flights to neighbouring Arab countries Syria and Jordan twice a week, and an official said it hoped to expand services to Dubai within weeks.
More international flights could help boost Iraq's reconstruction by providing more travel alternatives for businessmen and investors keen to avoid highways plagued by bandits and gunmen.
But with security in the country deteriorating, and a wave of kidnappings of foreigners, many foreigners still choose not to come. Until now there have only been a few daily commercial flights in and out of Baghdad.
Iraqi Airways says its offices have already sold dozens of tickets, but at prices the majority cannot afford. A return ticket to Damascus would cost $600, and a return to Amman $750. The same trip by road costs about $40.
After successfully performing a test flight from neighbouring Jordan in August, Iraqi Airways was initially denied regular airspace permission to fly over Iraqi territory, with doubts over licensing validity stalling the process.
But approval has now been granted, meaning Iraqi Airways can compete with Royal Jordanian which already has scheduled flights in and out of Iraq.
Despite the airline's optimism, it faces many hurdles. Many of its financial assets have been frozen since last year and only one of its 16-plane fleet is currently operable.