After many months of delay due to quality issues, Boeing and Iraqi Airways celebrated the delivery of the airline's first Boeing 787 Dreamliner in Baghdad. The Iraqi flag carrier has taken the first of 10 787s on order, which will help the airline profitably grow its long-haul network and connect Iraq to more international destinations.
The first @BoeingAirplanes 787 for Iraqi Airways is on its way home to Baghdad. https://t.co/OJO4AZkN2D pic.twitter.com/OpBiK7ycL5
— Flightradar24 (@flightradar24) June 21, 2023
The delivery of Iraqi Airways' first 787 follows the delivery of four Boeing 737 MAX airplanes since February. The airline has ordered a total of six 737-8s and 10 737-10s, which will provide its single-aisle fleet with more capability across its regional and medium-haul routes. Manaf Abdel-Monem, Director General of Iraqi Airways, said that the 787 and 737 MAX airplanes are key to the airline's fleet renewal program, which aims to ensure that passengers can fly around the world in safety and comfort.
We spy 👀 a 787-8 in #IraqiAirways livery! 😆
— Boeing Middle East (@BoeingMidEast) June 21, 2023
Leaving @weareboeingsc for Baghdad, this #Dreamliner is the first 787 for Iraqi Airways. In total, they'll receive 10 787-8 Dreamliner airplanes.
Isn't she a beauty?! pic.twitter.com/Ib6UDXlrCl
Iraqi Airways currently serves more than 50 destinations from Baghdad and is expanding and renewing its fleet to support the anticipated increase in international business and leisure travel to and from the country. Omar Arekat, Boeing's vice president of Commercial Sales and Marketing for the Middle East, said that the delivery of the 787 Dreamliner marks a new beginning for Iraqi Airways and will help the airline connect Iraq to the world. Kuljit Ghata-Aura, President of Middle East, Türkiye and Africa, Boeing, said that air transport is at the heart of economic growth and that the arrival of the Boeing 787 is an important step in connecting the Iraqi people to the region and the world.
The first Boeing #Dreamliner 787 joining the #IraqiAirways fleet represents a qualitative addition to Civil aviation in #Iraq; it is a new promising step to strengthen Iraq-US relations in accordance with the Strategic framework agreement between the two countries. pic.twitter.com/rE0KMKCjjS
— سفارة العراق – واشنطن| Iraqi Embassy in Washington (@IraqinUSA) June 21, 2023
The 787-8 Dreamliner can fly 248 passengers up to 7,305 nautical miles (13,530 km) in a typical two-class configuration. Using 25% less fuel and creating 25% fewer emissions than the airplanes it replaces, the 787 family has reduced more than 141 billion pounds of carbon emissions since entering service in 2011. Passengers enjoy many improvements with the 787 family such as the largest windows of any jet; air that is more humid and pressurized at a lower cabin altitude for greater comfort; large overhead bins with room for everyone's bag; soothing LED lighting; and technology that senses and counters turbulence for a smoother ride. In addition to the 737-8 and 787-8, Iraqi Airways operates a fleet of more than 40 Boeing airplanes, including 737-800s, 747s, and 777s, serving more than 50 destinations from Baghdad.