3 Airlines Win Initial Approval for Flights Between U.S. and Iraq

The government Friday gave initial permission to three airlines to begin scheduled flights between the United States and Iraq, saying air service can help in the war-torn country’s reconstruction.

The airlines -- World Airways, Northwest Airlines and the freight carrier Kalitta Air -- still need approvals from several government agencies. The Transportation Security Administration, for example, must make sure that security is adequate at Iraqi airports.

Baghdad’s international airport has yet to reopen for scheduled service.

Last month, transportation officials lifted a ban on air service between the two countries after nearly 13 years. As part of the 1990 economic sanctions against Iraq, the Transportation Department banned commercial flights that stopped in Iraq and barred Iraqi-registered aircraft from flying to or from the U.S.