Flydubai cancels flights to Baghdad for two days following unrest in Iraqi capital

Passengers are advised to contact the airline for rebooking or refund

Flydubai has cancelled flights to Baghdad on August 30 and 31 owing to civil unrest in Iraq. Photo: flydubai

Flydubai has cancelled flights to Baghdad on August 30 and 31 following deadly clashes in the Iraqi capital.

“We will continue to monitor the situation closely,” an airline representative told The National.

The airline is advising passengers who have bought tickets for travel to Baghdad to call the flydubai contact centre in Dubai to rebook or request a refund.

On Monday, Emirates also announced it was cancelling flights to and from the Iraqi city.

"Customers connecting to Baghdad will not be accepted for travel at their point of origin," Emirates said.

"We regret the inconvenience caused to our customers."

The advisory is for travel on August 30 and the airline also said it is "monitoring the situation closely”.

Tensions soar in Iraq

Followers of Moqtada Al Sadr have expanded their sit-in to the Supreme Judiciary Council building inside the Green Zone in Baghdad. All photos: Sadrist Media Office

The Iraqi capital’s heavily fortified Green Zone was last month stormed by Mr Al Sadr’s supporters, who occupied the parliament building and staged a sit-in.

The continuing protests come amid a 10-month political impasse over forming a new government in Iraq.

The Shiite cleric’s supporters have set up tents outside the headquarters of Iraq’s top judicial body.

They are demanding the dissolution of the Iraqi Parliament and an end to corruption.

Demonstrators gathered in front of the Supreme Judicial Council early on Tuesday.

The now expanded sit-in has made it impossible for politicians to convene and proceed with the formation of a new government.

The political deadlock that has engulfed Iraq looks set to continue.

The decision to cancel flights from Dubai to Baghdad comes after supporters of cleric Moqtada Al Sadr stormed the government palace in Baghdad's Green Zone on Monday as the Shiite leader said he was quitting politics.

Tensions have soared amid an escalating political crisis that has left Iraq without a new government, prime minister or president for months.

Official working hours were suspended on Tuesday as unrest continued.

Iran closed its land borders to Iraq as flights to the country halted on Tuesday. The Kuwaiti embassy in Iraq is also urging its citizens to leave the country, Kuwait's state news agency reported late on Monday.

At least 23 people have been confirmed dead after being shot in Baghdad's Green Zone, according to the latest death toll from AFP.

Iraqi security forces said on Tuesday that four rockets landed in the fortified Green Zone, damaging residences.