Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Sudani inaugurated Mosul International Airport after extensive renovations following its destruction by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL).
Sudani arrived in Mosul on Wednesday morning, accompanied by the ministers of defense, transport, and culture. He then attended the airport's opening ceremony with the governor of Nineveh and the council speaker.
"Mosul airport will be fully operational and ready for flights within the next two months, once a specialized company is selected," Sudani stated. He emphasized that the airport will serve as a crucial link between Mosul, other Iraqi cities, and the region, leading to increased economic and development opportunities for Nineveh province.
The airport, originally built in 1920 during British rule in Iraq, was converted from a military to a civilian airport. After the fall of the Ba'ath regime in 2003, it served as a major US military base before being handed over to the Iraqi government in 2008. However, it fell into the hands of ISIL in June 2014.
In late 2015, ISIL fighters constructed 22 trenches at Mosul airport to prevent Iraqi air forces from landing. These trenches hindered the airport's renovation efforts for a period of time.
According to previous reports, the runway sustained 25% damage, the airport itself 5% damage, the observation tower was completely destroyed, and all other equipment and facilities were also heavily damaged.
The prime minister's statement highlighted that the main runway has been reinforced to a length of 350 meters, with a total length of 3,000 meters and a width of 45 meters.
The airport will have an annual passenger capacity of approximately 630,000 passengers and an annual cargo capacity of about 30,000 tons.
