ARBIL: Iraq’s first Kurdish airline launched on Monday with a flight to Sweden, after years of delays owing to the IS offensive in the country.

“IS delayed our project but today, we mark real progress,” said the airline’s chief executive, Laund Sheikh Mamundi, explaining the three-year delay since Fly Erbil first announced its launch.

The airline currently has three planes and hopes to increase its fleet to 10, administrative director Ahmad Jamal said.

The company advertises flights to five European countries including Germany and the UK, targeting destinations with large Iraqi communities and investors who operate in Iraq, Jamal said.

Dressed in a navy blue uniform with golden buttons to match the airline’s logo, flight attendant Nisrine Rachid was thrilled the crew would be working in the Kurdish language.

“I think that makes them happy and we are delighted to serve them in Kurdish,” she said, ahead of the Boeing jet departing from Arbil airport.

Published in Dawn, June 19th, 2018