The Iraqi Government has imposed an international air ban over Iraqi Kurdistan.

The move comes in retaliation for the Kurdistan region’s vote for independence.

An air ban was imposed by the government on September 29 for all international flights to Iraqi Kurdistan Erbil International Airport (ORER) and Sulaimaniyah International Airport (ORSU).

The airports will only be available for Iraqi carriers and domestic operations. Official Notams has been published already as follows.

Official NOTAMs have been published:

Airport ORSU

A0466/17 NOTAMN
Q) ORBB/QFALT/IV/NBO/A/000/999/3534N04519E005
A) ORSU B) 1709291500 C) 1712291459EST
E) OPERATIONS SUSPENDED FOR ALL INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS INTO
SULAIMANIYAH AIRPORT (ORSU). MILITARY, UNITED NATIONS, DIPLOMATIC
AND HUMANITARIAN FLIGHTS MAY OPERATE SUBJECT TO APPROVAL AS
DESCRIBED IN IRAQ AIP GEN 1.2

Airport ORER

A0465/17 NOTAMN
Q) ORBB/QFALT/IV/NBO/A/000/999/3614N04357E005
A) ORER B) 1709291500 C) 1712291459EST
E) OPERATIONS SUSPENDED FOR ALL INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS INTO
ERBIL AIRPORT (ORER). MILITARY, UNITED NATIONS, DIPLOMATIC AND
HUMANITARIAN FLIGHTS MAY OPERATE SUBJECT TO APPROVAL AS DESCRIBED
IN IRAQ AIP GEN 1.2.

The neighbouring countries of Turkey, Syria, and Iran have also followed the Iraqi directive and closed their airspace for all flights operating to and from the Kurdistan region.