News / Iraq hits back at Kurdistan oil sales by banning freighter flights to the region

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Iraq’s Civil Aviation Authority has banned all freighter flights to Erbil and Sulaimani, in Kurdistan.

The Iraqi CAA controls Kurdish airspace and the move signals worsening tensions between Iraq and Kurdistan, affecting four weekly flights by Emirates, three by Etihad and services from Qatar Airways and Turkish Airlines.

According to Kurdish media network Rudaw, the Iraqi transport minister, Hadi Al-Amiri, has denied any decision to stop flights to airports in Erbil and Sulaimani.

“This is baseless and lies; no decision about stopping any ...