Ground-handling firms declined to serve Iranian planes, source says

Baghdad – Al-Wasat Iraqi newspaper

A senior source confirmed on Wednesday that the Ministry of Transport and the Civil Aviation Authority are not responsible for not receiving Iranian aircraft, and indicated that ground handling and ground services companies have declined to provide their services to Iranian airlines for fear of being subjected to sanctions.

The source said in a statement: "The Ministry of Transport is not responsible for not receiving Iranian aircraft, nor is the Civil Aviation Authority affiliated with the Council of Ministers, which is responsible for granting approvals according to the principle of reciprocity with the Iranian side in travel and aviation matters and in accordance with international aviation regulations."

He added that "the matter concerns ground handling and ground services companies, which are private non-governmental companies contracted with Iranian airlines to provide post-landing and pre-departure services, including loading and unloading baggage, organizing passenger boarding procedures onto aircraft and other services," noting that "these companies are the ones that declined to provide their services to Iranian airlines for fear of being subjected to sanctions."

He continued that "Iraqi airports provide a spatial environment for private companies that offer their services for fees and do not intervene in the nature of these companies' contracts with airlines in any detail."