National carrier Air India has resumed flights to Iraq after a 30-year gap. On Thursday an Air India plane flew Shiite pilgrims to the city of Najaf. The plane started its journey from Lucknow and upon landing the crew and pilgrims were welcomed by Iraqi officials.
“This is the first time in the last 30 years” that a plane has come from India to Iraq, said Pradeep Singh Rajpurohit, India’s ambassador to Iraq, at the international airport that serves the Shiite holy city.
The five-and-a-half-hour flight from Lucknow to Najaf will operate on Mondays and Thursdays.
