Serving the city of Erbil, located in the north of Iraq, Erbil Airport is operated by the Iraqi Kurdish Regional Government (IKRG). Erbil Airport, one of the most important airports in the region, increased its passenger capacity with the new terminal building built by Makyol Cengiz İnşaat in 2010.
The new terminal building, designed by the Scott Wilson Group, consists of two wings with 16 gates, 6 of which are passenger bridges. The airport has a single runway, which is one of the longest in the world with a length of 4.800 × 75 m (15.748 × 246 ft).
Erbil Airport, together with Sulaymaniyah Airport in the region, is intensively used by private jet charter companies, especially for business flights.
Erbil private jet charter prices
Although Iraq air charter fees depend on variables such as the number of passengers, departure airport, flight time, aircraft position, flight date, the prices for private jet charter from Istanbul → Erbil are as follows.
| Light Jet | 16.950 EUR |
| Midsize Jet | 22.000 EUR |
| Heavy Jet | 30.300 EUR |
These prices are average amounts and you can contact us on our flight reservation screen or by phone for the most accurate price information.
Brief history of Erbil Airport
The airport was first built in 1970 for military use. The runway was used as a military base by the Baath Party regime until 1991, after the United Nations Security Council established a no-fly zone over northern Iraq.
After the end of the Iraq War in 2003, the control of the airport was given to the Iraqi Kurdish Regional Government. The new administration carried out renovation works on the airport. After the studies, on May 26, 2005, the airport was earned the right to use the ICAO code. The city of Erbil has been a major recipient of foreign investment, as the region has natural resources, including oil, natural gas, and other minerals. The airport has undergone a series of renovations due to the growing need for safe access to the country.
While 550 million USD was spent on the renovation works, the renovated airport opened on July 5, 2005. The new airport is located next to the old airport (formerly a military area) and has one of the longest runways in the world with 4.800 m × 75 m.
The airport suspended all commercial international flights until 14 March 2018, following the 2017 Kurdistan Region independence referendum. The airport remained open only to humanitarian, military and diplomatic flights. After the stability in the region was ensured, the airport started to serve actively by the middle of 2018.
Places to visit and nightlife in Erbil
Erbil is not a city that attracts many tourists in general. The city, where mostly business trips are organized, actually has a deep history and culture.
Erbil Castle, which has become the symbol of the city, was included in the World Heritage List in 2014. Sami Abdulrahman Park, which has playgrounds, restaurants, and walking tracks, and Shanadar Park, which is designed mostly for children, are among the most popular places for tourists visiting the city.
Other must-see spots in the city include the Jalil Khayat Mosque, which was opened for worship in 2007, inspired by the Sultan Ahmet Mosque, the Syriac Heritage Museum and the Erbil Stone Museum.
While the city of Erbil is restructuring to be the center of attention of more tourists, the nightlife in the region has also received its share from this renewal. Nightlife, which was forbidden under Saddam Hussein, has diversified thanks to the new initiative policies of the Kurdish administration. Chopin & Saray Piano Bar and Lagoon Bar in the city are two of the most preferred spots by tourists. Apart from these, there are clubs and bars inside the hotels.
How to get to the city center from Erbil Airport?
One of the biggest disadvantages of Erbil Airport is that there is no public transportation to the city center. There is no alternative other than taxi and car rental to reach the center from or to airport.
Passengers traveling by private vehicle can reach the city center in about 10 minutes via Gulan St.
