BAGHDAD, Feb. 23 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani discussed with a delegation from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) on Sunday efforts to lift a European ban on national carrier Iraqi Airways, his office said.
Al-Sudani met with the IATA delegation, headed by its regional vice president for Africa and the Middle East, Kamil al-Awadhi, and reviewed measures taken by an Iraqi committee tasked with meeting the requirements to lift the ban, a statement from his media office said.
Discussions covered "Iraq's implementation of automation across all operational sectors, enhancing the airline's operational capabilities, advancing staff expertise, and elevating the quality of services provided to passengers and cargo transport," the statement added.
Al-Sudani reiterated the Iraqi government's commitment to overseeing the committee and upgrading the airline's facilities, adhering to international aviation standards, and keeping pace with developments in the air transport sector, the statement said.
Al-Awadhi noted Iraq had achieved 56 percent progress in implementing a corrective action plan, and the project was advancing as scheduled, it added.
The European Union banned Iraqi Airways from entering European airspace in 2015 due to safety and operational concerns. ■
