In a significant development for regional travel and relations, the first passenger flight from Turkey touched down at Sulaimani International Airport on Sunday night, marking the official end of a two-and-a-half-year flight ban imposed by Ankara.

The arrival of the plane, carrying 120 passengers, was met with celebration and relief, signaling a restoration of direct air links that had been severed since April 2023.

"It is a very, very great feeling," said Hidayat Salih, a tourist, after arriving. "It had been many years that people abroad, especially those in Europe, were waiting for this route to reopen. This route was very necessary to reopen."

The sentiment was echoed by fellow passengers, including renowned Kurdish singer Paywand Jaff. "I have a great feeling because during these past two years, we had to travel longer hours to reach here. Fortunately, now we can directly land here," Jaff stated.

The resumption of flights is set to provide a major boost to the local economy and connectivity. The same aircraft that arrived from Turkey returned with 105 passengers aboard, demonstrating immediate demand. For the month of November, four weekly flights are scheduled between the two destinations, with expectations for a further increase.

"From December 3, AJet airways, which is another Turkish and low-cost airline, will start flights and come to the Sulaimani airport," announced Zhewar Jalal, manager of a tourism agency.

The end of the ban comes as a relief after official data revealed that flight movements at Sulaimani airport had decreased by 35 percent over the past two and a half years due to the suspension.

Officials credited high-level diplomatic efforts for the breakthrough. Harman Mohammed, chief of staff at the Kurdistan Region's Transport and Communications Ministry, stated, “Undoubtedly, the president of the Kurdistan Region played a big role. Together with the Kurdistan Regional Government, they were making constant efforts... in order for the flights to resume for the service of our citizens.”

Turkey had initially imposed the flight ban on April 3, 2023, citing an alleged “intensification” of Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) activity in Sulaimani province. The decision followed the crash of two helicopters carrying Syrian Kurdish fighters in the province a month earlier.

The ban was extended for another three months in early October. However, during an official visit to Ankara around the same time, Kurdistan Region President Nechirvan Barzani raised the issue directly with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The Kurdistan Region Presidency later expressed gratitude to President Erdogan for lifting the ban, noting that the decision “comes within the framework of the strong relations between the Kurdistan Region and the Republic of Turkey, which we are confident will be helpful in advancing mutual cooperation and serve the interests of both sides - especially our citizens in Sulaimani province.”