One of the UK’s leading business groups is welcoming the resumption of direct flights between Baghdad and London for more than 20 years – the first Iraqi Airways plane will land this evening (March 5th 2013 ) at Gatwick Airport.

Baroness Nicholson of Winterbourne, Executive Chairman of the Iraq Britain Business Council, said: “ This is terrific news. There are proven links between boosting trade between countries and direct flights.

“A non-stop Iraqi Airways service between London and Baghdad means British businessmen and women can get out there now and start winning the big contracts.

“Iraq is spending over a trillion US dollars on reconstruction and the UK is lagging behind countries like China and South Korea who are snapping up major deals. The UK needs to catch up.”

VIP guests aboard the inaugural flight included Iraq’s Transport Minister Hadi al-Amri who was making his first visit to London and British Ambassador to Iraq Simon Collis.