Iraq cancels Mosul airport contracts linked to armed groups, seeks global operators

The Iraqi government is set to change the management approach at Mosul International Airport after Prime Minister Ali Faleh Al-Zaidi decided to cancel three operational contracts linked to armed groups. The government will instead seek specialized international companies to operate and manage the airport, as part of efforts to expedite its launch and enhance performance.

Alongside the airport issue, Al-Zaidi approved an increase in the fuel quota for private generators in Nineveh province to ease burdens on residents during winter. He also directed authorities to complete the requirements for distributing land deeds to eligible families under the “Watan” initiative for one million residential plots, in accordance with established regulations and standards.

The government’s new plan for the airport involves assigning joint operation and management tasks to reputable international companies, aiming to boost its role in transportation and the economy. This was discussed during a meeting chaired by the prime minister with Nineveh Governor Abdulqader Ahmed Dakhil and Raed Hamid Hussein, head of the Nineveh Court of Appeals.

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The meeting also addressed service and development conditions in the province, ways to improve services for residents, and measures to accelerate the completion of local development projects.

The official statement did not disclose the names of the companies that will be contracted to operate the airport, nor did it provide details about the three cancelled contracts or the armed groups involved. No timeline was given for the start of new contracts or the airport’s operational launch.