Turkey has decided to extend the ban on flights it suspended due to the PKK’s activities in Sulaymaniyah for another three months. According to the decision of the Turkish Civil Aviation Authority, the flight ban to Sulaymaniyah International Airport will remain in effect until 6 January 2026.
According to reports in the Iraqi media, the announcement was made by Sulaymaniyah International Airport. The statement said, “Turkey has extended the suspension period for air flights to Sulaymaniyah International Airport until 6 January 2026. The Turkish Civil Aviation Authority has issued a notice to extend the duration of the ban.”
Suspended Due to PKK Activities
Turkey initially imposed the ban on 3 April 2023 due to increased PKK activities around the airport in Sulaymaniyah and threats to flight safety. Since then, the ban has been extended several times, with the most recent extension lasting six months.
Last May, Deputy Prime Minister of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Kubad Talabani, called on President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to restart flights, but they remained suspended for security reasons.
Under Turkey’s new decision, flights to Sulaymaniyah are not expected to resume in the near future.
