Is it safe to fly over Iraq airspace?

Several countries have issued airspace warnings advising against operating in Iraqi airspace at the lower flight levels. The airspace adjoining the Baghdad FIR is also at risk: Iran, Turkey, Syria and Saudi Arabia. Major events: Sep 2023: Several reports of GPS spoofing in northern Iraq.



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Flying costs money and fuel. Airlines do their best to fly using the shortest possible route, to save money.., Iraq & Syria are dangerous places, but they don't have a history of shooting down or harassing, civil aviation, passenger planes. so, the Airlines Over fly them!

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Risk Level: One - Do Not Fly Syria is an active Conflict Zone. A civil war is ongoing since 2011. There is a high risk to civil aircraft.

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The US FAA recently amended their long standing Notam prohibiting US Operators from entering the ORBB/Baghdad FIR. The KICZ Notam A0036/21 used to bar flights at all levels, but now US operators are allowed to overfly Iraq provided they remain at or above FL320, as per the SFAR.

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It is likely that the choice of route is made based on financial reasons. From looking at recent flights, Emirates seems to have a preference for flying over Iraq, but occasionally flies over Iran. The ATS overflight fees of Iraq are at $3751 (approx. $0.38 per km) considerably cheaper than those of Iran.

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Dubai-based Emirates and sister carrier flydubai together serve 10 cities in Iran and Iraq, and have continued to use the airspace of both countries for other flights. Kuwait Airways and Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways have continued using Iranian and Iraqi airspace.

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The United States stated that the NFZs were intended to protect the ethnic Kurdish minority in northern Iraq and Shiite Muslims in the south. Iraqi aircraft were forbidden from flying inside the zones.

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Etihad Airways has subsequently suspended operations through Iranian airspace over the Straits of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman, and will use alternative flight paths on a number of routes to and from Abu Dhabi until further notice.

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He said Iraqi airspace has since been crowded with British Airways being the latest to use it. Other notable airlines include Air France, Air Canada, Royal Dutch Airlines, and Swiss Airlines among others, he added.

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Risk Level: One - Do Not Fly Iraq is an active conflict zone. Local and foreign military continue to fight against an armed insurgency that has existed since 2017. There is a high risk to civil aircraft. Iraqi airspace (ORBB/Baghdad FIR) should be avoided entirely.

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“What happens if an airplane enters a no fly zone?” First, they will “politely” tell it to bugger off, now. If it doesn't do that, then military fighters will show up to escort the airplane as it buggers off. If it still doesn't do that, then they will shoot the bugger down.

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