Iran’s Civil Aviation Organisation has ordered airlines to suspend the display and sale of tickets for flights to Iraq until further notice, with Najaf among the most affected routes. The move comes amid wider disruption to Iranian air services after regional restrictions and U.S. pressure, and airlines must refund affected passengers in full without cancellation fees.
The directive appears to close off one of the main alternatives for Iran-Iraq passenger traffic after earlier cancellations and reroutings. Najaf is a major destination for Iranian pilgrims, and the freeze on ticket sales creates immediate uncertainty for travellers using the route and for airlines carrying religious traffic between the two countries.
Carriers have also been instructed to add domestic shuttle capacity to border-area airports to help stranded passengers continue overland into Iraq. The available reporting does not make clear whether the suspension is temporary, which other Iraqi routes are covered, or when ticket sales may resume.