Basrah International Airport opens to commercial flights (in Iraq)

[ECH1969]

The first Iraqi Airways flight landed at Basrah International Airport June 4 with the help of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Gulf Region South (USACE-GRS).

The Corps' goal is to give the Iraqis a functioning civil aviation airport allowing passenger planes to fly both domestically and internationally, according to Robert Vanoer, resident engineer for the GRS Basrah Resident Office.

“The big piece is to ensure the terminal has air conditioning. Another big piece is the air control tower, which is 12 stories high and has no elevator.”

http://www.portaliraq.com/news/Basrah+International+Airport+opens+to+commercial+flights__1111250.html
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Iraqi Airways has really cheap rates. Maybe, they hope they can make Mosul or Fallujah the new Aruba.

[xultar]

1. Operation target practice.

[Gelliebeans]

2. can you imagine

naming your price at priceline for a flight to Basrah? :crazy:

[cire4]

5. You certainly could before the war.....

Same with Baghdad...

[PennyLane]

6. They'd.........

.......have to pay ME to fly that airline! And there's not enough
money in the Middle East! Perhaps they could feature a segment of
Fear Factor from Bahgdad International!:woohoo:

[LibDemAlways]

3. What if they opened an airport and

nobody came?

[Theduckno2]

4. "What if they opened an airport and "

everybody left? :)

[llmart]

7. What if they opened an airport........

and everyone was shot???

[Spurt]

8. I'm thinking it's....

....going to be operated by KBR or similar after it's repaired and recommissioned. The taxpayer will pay them big money to repair and operate this facility. Uncontested contracts of course.
The airport will be used to service all sorts of contractors. Probably flying uninsureable chartered aircraft. Can't see many tourists using the services just yet. With 80% unemployment I can't see a lot of locals affording an expensive ticket.
Of course everything will be $ inflated. The aircraft and crew, landing fees (to KBR), contractors on huge salaries (lots from KBR), heavy security (by KBR), expensive fuel and airport services (by KBR), etc.
And that'll all be covered by the taxpayer too (with borrowed money).

I see another war budget adjustment coming.