Jordan Aviation launches its first flight to Najaf International Airport

Jordan Aviation Boeing 737- 300 has landed at the international airport of Najaf at noon on Saturday, 6/12/2008, on board, there were a number of the airline's seniors and some economical sectors representatives and journalists from 60 Arab and foreign media.

The aircraft have been received and welcomed by the governor of Najaf, his deputy and a number of Iraqis officials and the people of Najaf with a warm greetings and honor, as it is the first of its kind in the history of the city, because of its significant meaning to the importance of trade and distinguished relations and the placement of Najaf international airport on the map of regional and international airports.

It is expected that the airport operates around the clock to serve the pilgrims estimated at three million passengers a year from various regions of the Islamic world, the airport was provided with the latest navigational and technical equipments to receive aircraft of various sizes.

The Chairman of the Board and CEO of Jordan Aviation Group of Companies, Captain Mohammed Al khashman upon arrival at the airport of Najaf, stated that this trip is a historical event for the company's record, adding that Jordan Aviation after the completion of this first such flight, also had a lead over the past years in operating the First flight to Taba airport after it returned to the Egyptian sovereignty. And its first flight that marked the return of the operation of Baghdad International Airport in 2000.

In addition the company operated a large number of commercial flights to various Iraqi airports over the past five years to serve the Iraqi passengers, including the transportation of Iraqi Hajj traffic to the Holy Land in collaboration with the Iraqi national aviation over the past three years, has been accomplished smoothly, safely and efficiently.

Captain Al khashman also stated that the number of Iraqi pilgrims who had been transferred on Jordan Aviation fleet over the past three years reached about 65 thousand pilgrims, including this year pilgrimage season, by also transporting around 24 thousand pilgrims from all Iraqi airports, operated by 5 aircraft of its 18 modern aircraft fleet, by running 130 flights in 12 days, the company is privileged to serve the pilgrims.

Captain Al khashman in his speech during the inauguration ceremony said that, "We are here today, for the event of opening the Najaf international airport, Our first flight one of its kind is to serve the pilgrims who will return from Hajj to their homes via this airport and other Iraqi airports starting Friday 12/12/2008."

The Captain confirmed that Jordan Aviation will cooperate with the Iraqi national aviation and coordinate with the concerned parties effective next month to start operating non- scheduled flights from various Islamic countries airports to Najaf International Airport, where Jordan Aviation will dedicate 3 of its modern aircraft of various sizes to serve the airport by transporting visitors to Najaf holy sites at an average of 1,400 visitors a day.

In his speech during the event, the governor of Najaf welcomed the Jordanians representatives and journalists who arrived on board Jordan Aviation aircraft, and he confirmed that this inaugural event strengthens the ties of cooperation between Jordan and Iraq, describing that the airport will serve the Iraqis and the Islamic visitors who will come from all over the world to Najaf airport throughout the year to visit the holy sites.

Meanwhile, from his part, The Iraqi National Aviation CEO, Dr. Saeed Abdullah, said that the Jordanian-Iraqi relations have always been distinct, and increasingly flourishing, including the strong bonds of cooperation between their people.

Dr. Abdullah added that the fruitful cooperation between Iraqi national Aviation and Jordan Aviation is an impressive model of partnership between the private sector on one hand and the public sector, where facilities provided from both sides ensure the success of this partnership, particularly in the transfer of pilgrims traffic that have proved successful over the past three years, and won the Confidence of the governments of Jordan, Iraq and Saudi Arabia.

Dr. Abdullah, reiterated that continuous coordination between the Iraqi Ministry of Transport and the Iraqi Airways to benefit from the experience of Jordan Aviation in the development of the Iraqi air transport sector, noting that Jordan Aviation company provides assistance mission for Iraqi Airways to obtain a scheduled operator license, in addition to the assistance for obtaining the IATA IOSA security and safety certificate, so that they can benefit from the bilateral agreements linking Iraq with the outside world.

Jordan Aviation in conjunction with the Iraqi national Aviation are in the process of the completion of the recent measures to obtain a non- scheduled license air carrier for Iraqi national Aviation, Where it will be the first airline owned by an Iraqi private sector, to start its operations by using a leased aircraft from Jordan aviation.

Dr. Adel Mashharawi said that, "We have worked hand in hand and together over three consecutive years, as one team, to support Iraq and to facilitate the transfer of Iraqi pilgrims to perform Hajj."

Our cooperation and coordination did not stop at this level, but exceeded to the level of accomplishing this Private Jordan Aviation flight in which it is the first flight landing at Najaf airport to mark the inauguration of this airport to launch various commercial flights in addition to the transportation of pilgrims.

He added that Iraqi national Aviation led by Alhaji Aqil Rubaie and Jordan Aviation led by Captain Mohammed Al khashman, and Dr. Saeed Abdullah, since its inception has in mind serving the pilgrims, and the sincerity and seriously of the two leaders and cadres of trained and the dedicated staff of the two company's for the Continuity and success of this mission.

Dr. Mashharawi continued his speech by stating... Let me extend my greatest thanks and appreciation to His Eminence Sheikh Mohammed Taqi al-Mawla and the supreme commission of the Hajj and Umrah and the Iraqi Civil Aviation, the Jordanian Civil Aviation Regulatory Commission, Iraqi Airways and Jordan Aviation, and all those working for them as well as all the relevant authorities of the Government of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz facilities and support the various ways they have made to the success and the implementation of this good cause mission.

We celebrate this day of the landing of the first flight in Najaf Airport by Jordan Aviation, the partner and main ally of the Iraqi national Aviation which came at the invitation of brothers from all parts of Iraq, led by officials in this province, who provided all the facilities and support to demonstrate the capacity of the airport to work and handle all types of aircraft.

We have had a direct and indirect support from the leaders and governments of Jordan and Iraq, this support has a largest impact on the success of this event to all parties, which emphasizes that the two governments are keen to continue their communication and reconstruction and development through their enthusiasm and extended support to the private sector in the two countries.

The journalists toured the facilities at Najaf Airport, where they were closely briefed on the developments and equipments provided to the airport for the support of handling air traffic, where this airport is an added quality value to airports in Iraq.