“Turkish Airlines will resume its flights from Istanbul to Sulaimani, seven flights a week,” Cahit Turhan told the Anadolu news agency.

On September 29, 2017, Iraq’s central government imposed a ban on all international flights in and out of the Kurdistan Region.

The ban on Erbil and Sulaimani airports came in response to a September 25, 2017 referendum on the region’s independence, which was passed with 93 percent of the vote but not implemented.

“Our country issued a NOTAM [Notice to Airmen] on Oct. 17, 2017 to stop all flights from Turkish airspace to the region,” Turhan said.

He recalled that on March 15, 2018 Iraqi officials lifted the ban on international flights when control of the airports in Erbil and Sulaimani shifted to the Iraqi central government.

“Thus we resumed flights to Erbil from Turkey, but the ban on Sulaimani remained in force,” Turhan added.

Reporter’s code: 50101