ABU DHABI // More than 100 pilgrims stranded in Iraq by a ban on flights in and out of Baghdad will finally fly home on Monday, Etihad Airways says.
The General Civil Aviation Authority ordered the ban on January 27 after a flydubai plane was hit with small-arms fire while landing at Baghdad airport.
The low-cost carrier, along with Etihad, Emirates and Air Arabia, immediately suspended operations to the Iraqi capital.
That meant more than 300 Pakistani pilgrims who had flown Etihad to Baghdad on a religious tour three weeks ago were unable to take their scheduled flights home last week.
The pilgrims range in age from 4 to 65 years. Their group leader, Owais Qarni, who runs a travel agency in Pakistan, said it was the first time he had faced such a situation in more than a decade of travelling to Iraq.
“We were in Karbala when we heard about the flight suspension,” Mr Qarni said. “Naturally everyone in my group got worried. I have been leading pilgrimage groups to Iraq every year for more than a decade and never faced such a tricky situation.
“Perhaps we were not ready and panicked, especially those who have families or elder parents along. We sincerely hope we will reach home soon.”
Mr Qarni said each pilgrim had to pay US$60, or about Dh220, for the eight-hour bus trip to Basra for the return flight, after Etihad said it would not cover those costs.
“Those who cannot afford $60 are taking loans from different sources as everyone is desperate to go home,” he said.
Amir Rehman, the community welfare attache at the Pakistani embassy in Baghdad, said: “The Etihad officials in Baghdad promised that all the stranded Pakistanis would be facilitated in the earliest available flights on a priority basis.
“After getting the approval from Abu Dhabi, they scheduled flights from Basra.”
Mr Rehman said about 170 pilgrims had returned to Pakistan from Basra. The remaining passengers were staying at the Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jeelani shrine and were being provided with accommodation and food.
Etihad said on Sunday night they would be flown home today.
“Following the decision by the GCAA on 27 January to ban UAE airlines from operating to Baghdad, Etihad Airways has supported affected passengers by offering a variety of options, including travel on its flights from Basra and Erbil,” a spokesman said.
“We’re pleased that the majority of the Pakistani pilgrims scheduled to fly with Etihad Airways have now returned home and the remaining members of the group are due to fly tomorrow [on Monday].”
The Pakistani Mission in Abu Dhabi said they were in touch with their colleagues in Baghdad.
“We are working closely with Pakistani Mission Baghdad and extended our support whatever we can do from here,” said Dr Faisal Aziz Ahmed, deputy head of mission in Abu Dhabi.
“However, the situation is in control now in Baghdad, and we are thankful to Etihad for taking measures on compassionate grounds. We hope all the pilgrims will return home as early as possible.”
akhaishgi@thenational.ae
