Ahlul Bayt News Agency , Alnaser Airlines, Iraq’s first private airline established in 2009, started its daily flights from Dubai to Iraq last week. The flights are running to their full capacity of 140 passengers.

The airline, owned by an Iraqi national, Shaikh Hussain Al Khawam, has started a joined venture with the US-owned FK Gryphon Airlines, which in 2008 started commercial operations in Iraq and Kuwait.

The first port of stop for Alnaser Airlines was Kuwait, a country that came under attack from Iraq in 1991. “We wanted Kuwait to be the first [stop], to break the barriers between the two countries,” said Executive Vice-President of Gryphon Airlines, Abdullah Al Tammar.

He explained why FK Gryphon made its entry into the Iraq market: “The country has several religious spots and holy shrines that many people would like to visit.”

As for the timing of launching an airline in Iraq, which is still facing lethal attacks, Al Tammar said: “Life has to go on. We cannot let the terrorists win.”

The Dubai-Baghdad route follows the Baghdad-Kuwait and Kuwait-Najaf routes, with more destinations to come soon. Both Najaf and Karbala house shrines revered by Shias.

“We are eyeing East Asia, particularly China, as well as Europe, with current talks on Iraq-Germany routes,” said Al Tammar.

Currently, the joint venture utilises seven aircraft, three supplied by Alnaser and four by Gryphon.

“We operate in Kuwait as a joint venture between Alnaser and Gryphon – sometimes we fly our own carrier, sometimes they fly with their planes… we have a commercial agreement,” he said.

The size of Gryphon’s fleet is to be increased as the company is in the process of buying a second airline from the Gulf Co-operation Council region. “Gryphon will own a second airline within two months, and we hope that it will compete [well] in the aviation industry,” added Al Tammar.

“The economic situation being what it is, there should be more consolidation and alliances between companies, so there can be a continual and sufficient budget flow,” he said.

Meanwhile, profits are expected in the second year of operation, and will grow if stability returns to the war-torn country.

“We cannot disclose figures for the time being, as we are still in very early stages. The real worth of the agreement will come to light later,” said John Mohamed, Director of Middle East Sales of Gryphon Holdings.

According to Al Tammar, Alnaser has a grand future, especially with the private sector growing in Iraq.

“For the first time, there is a private airline in Iraq. And there is co-operation between Alnaser and the national carrier, Iraqi Airlines, not to mention the help received by Alnaser for its AOC [air operator certificate].”