U.S. lifts ban on air service to Iraq

WASHINGTON -- The government lifted a ban on air service between the United States and Iraq on Friday after nearly 13 years.

Economic sanctions were imposed on Iraq in August 1990 as punishment for its invasion and occupation of neighboring Kuwait. Honoring the sanctions, the Transportation Department prohibited air carriers from offering commercial flights in the United States that included stops in Iraq and barred aircraft of Iraqi registry from flying to or from the United States.

Managers of Iraq's national carrier, Iraqi Airways, said this week the airline plans to resume operations.

The United Nations announced Wednesday that restrictions on flights to Iraq had formally ended after the Security Council's decision last week to lift sanctions.

Any air carrier wanting to restore air service to or from Iraq must obtain approval from federal agencies, including the Federal Aviation Administration and the Transportation Security Administration, said Bill Mosley, Transportation Department spokesman.

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