Lufthansa to fly to Baghdad

Lufthansa to fly to Baghdad

GERMANY: German airline Lufthansa said on Saturday it was seeking approval to resume flights to Baghdad as soon as possible.

Deutsche Lufthansa AG said it needed the consent of Iraqi authorities, but hoped to make a decision in a few weeks after clarifying issues such as take-off and landing rights.

"With its oil refineries, Baghdad is the country's leading industrial center and is becoming an increasingly important destination for business travelers," the airline said in a statement.

A spokeswoman said decisions on the frequency of flights and aircraft to be used would be taken once approval was granted. Other airlines that have expressed an interest in reintroducing flights to the Iraqi capital include Northwest Airlines Corp. and Virgin Atlantic. -- Reuters