SULAIMANI (ESTA) — The Turkish National Flag Carrier Airlines (Turkish Airlines) on Monday suspended flights between the Kurdistan Region’s Sulaimani and Turkey.
The suspension is reportedly temporary and it is expected to last until the end of April this year.
Last night, the Turkish Airlines company informed Sulaimani aviation authorities via an email that it suspended all flights to the city, according to the spokesman for Sulaimani international airport.
“We have requested clarification,” the spokesman said, adding “So far they did not respond to the request.”
At this moment, Turkish Airlines was the only company that had Turkey-Sulaimani flights.
The intention behind’s Turkey’s decision still remained unclear. However, It’s not the first time that Turkey makes such a decision.
Back in 2018-19, the Turkish Ministry of Transport imposed an embargo on flights between Turkey and the Sulaimani International Airport.
Ankara’s embargo back then was based on allegations that the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), the dominant party in Sulaimani province, had accommodated and support the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK).
The PKK is a Kurdish group fighting for broader rights in Turkey which Ankara, the United States, and the European Union have designated a “terrorist” group.
