Iraqi authorities award contract for development of Nasiriyah Airport

The project is expected to be complete in three years and will be able to handle 750,000 passengers per annum

June 14, 2021

An Iraqi Airways plane arrives at Baghdad airport, Iraq, Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2015. Several airlines suspended flights to Baghdad on Tuesday after a passenger plane arriving from the Mideast's busiest airport in Dubai came under fire as it landed in the Iraqi capital. Jabr said authorities believe the shooting was unintentional — possibly from someone firing off rounds at a social event such as a wedding or funeral — but they are not ruling out the possibility that it was an intentional terrorist attack. (AP Photo/Karim Kadim)

A contract for the development of a civilian airport in Iraq has been awarded to a Chinese group by Iraqi authorities. As per a report by the Iraqi News Agency, the new Nasiriyah Airport will replace the existing military base in the capital of the southern Dhi Qar governorate.

The as yet unnamed Chinese group’s scope of work includes the construction of a cargo building, as well as roads linking the airport to the city’s town centre, the report noted.

Once complete, the Nasiriyah Airport will be able to handle 750,000 passengers per annum. The report stated that the airport is expected to be complete within a three-year period.

The foundation stone for the project was laid by Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Al Kadhimi. He stated that the new airport is an attractive tourism and investment project for Iraq.