Dubai-based budget carrier flydubai said on Wednesday it was temporarily suspending its flights to Erbil, complying with an Iraqi government demand following an independence referendum in Kurdish-held northern Iraq.
Flights would be suspended from September 30, a spokesman said.
People in northern Iraq voted overwhelmingly in favor of independence in Monday’s non-binding referendum that was opposed by the governments in Baghdad, Turkey and Iran.
The Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority sent a notice on Wednesday to foreign airlines telling them international flights to Erbil and Sulaimaniya in the Kurdish region would be suspended on Friday at 1500 GMT and only domestic flights allowed.
Turkish carriers Turkish Airlines, Atlas and Pegasus earlier announced suspension of their flights from Friday, and Lebanon’s Middle East Airlines said it would also stop flights to and from Erbil on the same day.
EgyptAir meanwhile announced its flights would also halt that day “until further notice.”

Source: Arab News