First Turkish passengers airliner lands in Basra Airport

The first Turkish airliner landed on Tuesday, June 28, in Basra International Airport starting flights between Istanbul and Basra.
On board are 75 passengers, including Turkish businessmen and European media reporters.
Governor of Basra, Khalaf Abdul Samad, accompanied by a number of the province’s official were on hand welcoming the flight, said, “Opening this rout reflects the depth of Iraq-Turkey relations, since establishing commercial flights between both countries will contribute to a great extend in facilitating the arrival of Turkish investors and others to Basra
He added, “Basra is among the world’s important commercial places, with a budget of more than 2.5 trillion Iraqi Dinars represents an invitation to international investment companies to enter Basra’s market.”
For his part, Turkey’s Ambassador to Iraq, Murat Ozçelik, said, “Opening flight rout between Turkey and Basra will stimulate large investment by facilitating the travelling of Turkish businessmen to and from Basra.” And he will urge Turkish and international firms to participate in Basra’s reconstruction.
With the arrival of this flight Basra became the third Iraqi city in which Turkish airliners are flying to after Baghdad and Erbil.