Türkiye Lifts Flight Ban on Sulaymaniyah Airport After Peace Initiative with PKK

ANKARA: Türkiye has lifted its flight ban on Sulaymaniyah International Airport in Iraq’s semiautonomous Kurdish region, marking a significant diplomatic development following recent peace efforts between Ankara and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) militant group.

The announcement came late Thursday from the office of Nechirvan Barzani, president of the Kurdish region, after his meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara.

According to a statement from Erdogan’s office, the leaders discussed Türkiye’s relations with Iraq and the Kurdish region, focusing on regional cooperation, economic opportunities, and recent peace developments.

Türkiye had imposed the flight ban in 2023, citing heightened PKK activity in Sulaymaniyah that allegedly posed security risks to civilian aviation.

The PKK, designated a terrorist organization by Türkiye, the United States, and the European Union, has waged a decades-long insurgency against Ankara. The conflict, which has spread into Iraq and Syria, has claimed tens of thousands of lives since the 1980s.

However, in a historic shift, the PKK earlier this year agreed to disband and abandon armed struggle as part of a new peace initiative with Türkiye. A symbolic disarmament ceremony took place near Sulaymaniyah in July, signaling a thaw in one of the region’s longest-running conflicts.

The Kurdistan Region Presidency welcomed Türkiye’s decision to lift the flight ban, describing it as a positive step that strengthens mutual trust and cooperation.

National carrier Turkish Airlines also confirmed the move, with spokesperson Yahya Ustun stating on social media:

“As the flag carrier, we continue to proudly represent Türkiye in the skies across the globe. In line with this vision, we are delighted to soon reconnect our Sulaymaniyah route with the skies once again.”

The announcement coincided with the visit of Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein to Ankara, where he held talks with Turkish officials on bilateral cooperation and water-sharing issues. Baghdad has repeatedly voiced concern that Turkish dams on the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers are reducing Iraq’s water supply.

Observers say Türkiye’s decision to reopen Sulaymaniyah Airport signals a broader effort to normalize ties with both the Kurdish regional government and Baghdad  while promoting stability and economic integration in a region long marred by conflict.