Iraqi Airways Flight Permit Cancelled

Iraqi Airways’ flying permit to Iran was cancelled as of Oct. 4 until further notice for violation of permit conditions, the head of the Civil Aviation Organization of Iran said on Sunday. 
“As per the agreement, the two countries are only allowed to operate one-way flights to transport diplomats and their own citizens. But Iraqi Airways failed to abide by the regulatory requirements and carried passengers who had secured visa from a company, and therefore its flight permit was cancelled by CAO,” he was quoted as saying by the news portal of the Ministry of Roads and Urban Development.   
All domestic airlines have suspended flights to Iraq until Arbaeen that falls on Oct. 8 this year. 
According to Maqsoud Asadi-Samani, secretary of the Association of Iranian Airlines, only an Iraqi airline is operating flights to the neighboring country to transport those holding Iraqi residency. 
“Iraq has banned the entry of foreign pilgrims for Arbaeen this year due to the Covid-19 outbreak,” he was quoted as saying by Fars News Agency. 
Each year, millions of pilgrims travel to the Iraqi cities of Najaf and Karbala for the Arbaeen commemorations—one of the largest annual gatherings of Muslims in the world, which marks the 40th-day anniversary after Ashura, the day Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) grandson, Hussein ibn Ali (PBUH), was martyred in 680 AD.