RESUMPTION OF ROYAL JORDANIAN BAGHDAD FLIGHTS

C O N F I D E N T I A L AMMAN 000204

SIPDIS

CPA FOR TRENT, WILLIS, WAYNE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 1/8/2009
TAGS: EAIR PREL PINR IZ JO
SUBJECT: RESUMPTION OF ROYAL JORDANIAN BAGHDAD FLIGHTS

REF: AMMAN 8299

Classified By: AMBASSADOR EDWARD W. GNEHM. REASONS 1.5 (B) AND (D).


1. (C) National Security Adviser and General Intelligence
Department Director Sa'ad Khair told the Ambassador January 8
that he had authorized the resumption of Royal Jordanian (RJ)
charter service to Iraq. Khair said that the government had
concluded that with the passage of time the specific security
concerns that led the the flights' suspension in November
(ref) had abated to the extent that RJ could be allowed to
proceed. Nonetheless, the GOJ understands that a general
risk to aviation in Iraq persists. Khair said that in
addition to Baghdad International, he had authorized flights
to Irbil and al-Balad airports.


2. (SBU) Royal Jordanian confirmed to us separately that
they will begin flights next week, beginning Friday, January
9 with two flights to BIAP chartered by KBR. Regular charter
flights to BIAP would resume on Sunday, January 11 and
continue at a frequency of four days per week
(Sunday-Tuesday-Thursday-Friday) with 46-passenger DASH-8
aircraft. During the week of January 12, the airline will
make a decision on whether to begin flying to Irbil and
al-Balad. That decision would be partially based on whether
or not the airline was able to lease a 168-seat 737-400 "from
Europe."


3. (C) In making this decision RJ was likely not aware of
reports that a U.S. military C-5 had been hit by a missile
near BIAP on January 8. We will remain engaged with RJ and
report any change in their decision.
GNEHM