Iran air to resume Bushehr-Najaf flights next week

Iran's national carrier, Iran Air, is slated to resume its direct flights from the country's Southern Bushehr city to the Iraqi holy city of Najaf in the coming days.
"The Iran Air flights from Bushehr to Najaf will resume as of August 29 after four years of interruption," Head of Iran Air Office in Bushehr Ahmad Mahuzi said on Saturday.
He noted that the Iran Air Airbus 320s will transfer 140 Iranian pilgrims on each flight to Najaf to visit the holy Shiite sites.
"The flights from Bushehr to Najaf will take place once a week and will increase in number in case any such need arises," Mahuzi said.
Iran Air currently conducts 26 flights from Bushehr to the Iranian cities of Tehran, Shiraz and Isfahan every week.
Najaf is a city in Iraq about 160 km South of Baghdad. It is the capital of Najaf Governorate. It is widely considered the third holiest city of Shi'ite Islam.
Iran and Iraq have enjoyed growing ties ever since the overthrow of the former Iraqi dictator, Saddam Hussein, during the 2003 US invasion of the Muslim country.