The Transport Ministry in Baghdad has agreed a joint operation contract with the Dusseldorf-based carrier enabling the Iraqi national carrier to gain the use of three Airbus A320 planes.

Although the aircraft are normally used on short-haul routes, the ministry says that Iraqi Airways will use them for flights between Baghdad and Europe.

Baghdad is seeking new ways of increasing Iraqi Airways' fleet because it is unable to take delivery of 10 aircraft from Canada's Bombardier, part of a $5.5bn order placed last year.

Kuwait has laid claim to the aircraft on order from Bombardier to repay a $1.2bn compensation claim dating back to the first Gulf War in 1990 (MEED 9:10:08).

In July, Baghdad agreed to lease 20 aircraft from the US group Ross Aviation (MEED 9:7:09).