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Iraq takes delivery of first new Boeing airliner in 30 years

16 December 2012 02:23 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Iraq has received its first new Boeing passenger plane in 30 years in the latest sign of the country's determination to rebuild its aviation sector after decades of war and sanctions, APA reports quoting Press TV.

"The first Boeing 777-200LR plane arrived in Baghdad airport in a latest step forward to rebuild the Iraqi Airways fleet," an Iraqi Airways official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Xinhua on Saturday.

Iraqi Transportation Minister Hadi al-Amiri and senior Iraqi officials welcomed the touchdown of the twin-aisle 777-200LR in a ceremony at Baghdad airport.

"We are rebuilding our country's aviation sector and the purchase of the Boeing 777-200LR will help us begin developing the long-haul flight market," Amiri stated.

Iraq has ordered another 30 of Boeing's smaller 737-800 model and 10 of its new 787s. The first of the 737s will be delivered in the middle of next year.

Boeing last sold Iraq a commercial plane -- a version of the 747 jumbo jet -- in 1982, said Donald Galvanin, the Chicago-based company's sales director for the Middle East. He said this weekend's delivery is an important step toward improving Iraq's economy.

"To bring in business, you need a connection with outside… and a viable airline," he added.

Iraq was able to get the 777 delivered now because another customer was unable to take it, Galvanin explained.

He said Baghdad may be interested in buying more long-range jets down the road because "they realize they would need a few more."

Boeing's delivery of the Boeing 777-200LR comes less than two weeks after Airbus announced the delivery of one of its own wide-body planes to Iraq.

In early December, Airbus said it had delivered its first A330-200 to Iraq. Iraqi Airways, which plans to use the plane on European and other international routes, already operates two Airbus A321s.