Flights to Iraq to take off from Manchester next month

A Greek airline will launch the first flights from the northwest of England to Iraq on February 1.

Viking Hellas Airlines will fly from Manchester to Athens from where passengers can connect to flights to Baghdad and to the Kurdish cities of Erbil and Sulaymanyiah.

Passengers tempted to book seats should check their travel insurance will cover them for trips to Iraq.

Standard travel insurance policies are unlikely to include travel to Iraq as UK Foreign Office warns against all trips to Baghdad and its surrounding area, though it admits the risk to travellers' safety is 'markedly lower' in the Kurdish Region of the country.

Fares from Manchester to Iraq, connecting in Athens, start at £545 return. Seats can be booked at www.flyviking.gr.

Though the flights to Iraq are not likely to attract many holidaymakers, the airline said there was strong demand for the service from the sizeable expatriate community in the northwest. Expatriates are reminded that they still need travel insurance when visiting their homeland.

Commercial director of Viking Hellas Roger Gatt said: This new service is a lifeline for them.

"Viking Airlines AB has operated flights from Sweden to the country for a number of years without incident and we are pleased to be providing another option for travellers to Iraq."

Flights will operate from Manchester on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and from Athens to Manchester on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Viking Hellas is planning to increase frequency to four flights weekly by adding a Tuesday departure from Manchester and a Wednesday departure from Athens in March.

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