Long-anticipated reconstruction of Mosul airport begins, raising hopes for city's revival

Grounded for seven years, residents of Mosul are hopeful that reconstruction of the city's only airport will create job opportunities and facilitate travel in and out of the capital of Ninawa province.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa Kadhemi launched the highly anticipated reconstruction project on August 10. The project is expected to take 24 months.

Severely damaged by the "Islamic State of Syria and Iraq" (ISIS) in 2015 -- two years before Iraqi and coalition forces liberated Mosul -- the airport has since remained unused and in ruins.

Kadhemi said the airport's reconstruction is "strategic and important, as it will create job opportunities, facilitate transportation and make the lives of citizens easier", adding that he has fulfilled his promise to the people of Mosul.

During an 18-month mine-clearing project funded by the US State Department, workers removed land mines and significant amounts of rubble from the airport. They turned it over to the provincial government in 2019.

Reconstruction projects are progressing in Mosul at an accelerated pace after years of stalling and delays in response to calls to prioritise the restoration of the historic city's lustre and to meet the needs of its residents.

The Iraqi government formed a central committee in March 2021 to oversee the implementation of a sweeping public service rehabilitation plan.

Funds for reconstruction

The Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority and the French company Aéroports de Paris (ADP) Ingénierie signed a memorandum of understanding in January 2021 to rehabilitate Mosul airport with a €300 million loan from France.

The Mosul Reconstruction Committee later announced a delay to the project and the redirection of the loan to another undertaking.

The French loan will fund a new airport in the city, to be named Ninawa International Airport, which will be built on 36 sq. km in al-Sahaji, west of Mosul, under a contract with French companies, according to the committee.

Instead, the Mosul airport reconstruction will benefit from an allocation of 214 billion IQD ($146 million) from Ninawa provincial funds, which the Iraqi Treasury froze during the war against ISIS.

The Ninawa provincial government on August 9 signed a contract with two Turkish companies -- TAV Construction (which is part of Groupe ADP) and 77 Insaat -- to undertake the rehabilitation work, said Ninawa governor Najm al-Jubouri.

The two Turkish companies "have extensive experience and have constructed over 15 airports around the world", he said.

"We want to complete the airport project in the shortest time," said Ninawa deputy governor Raad al-Absi. "Our province is in dire need of it ... after years of suffering under terrorism."

Improvements to airport infrastructure

The airport reconstruction project will bring about a myriad of opportunities to Mosul residents, according to Mosul Reconstruction Committee chairman Abdul Qadir al-Dakhil.

The airport will be "the city's identity", he said, adding that its reconstruction will facilitate travel for medical treatment and tourism for residents, make investment and entrepreneurship possible, create more jobs, and help develop the city.

The airport will not be restored to its previous state as a domestic airport but instead will undergo improvements to prepare it for international flights, he said.

The runway will be lengthened to 3,000 metres to accommodate larger aircraft, particularly commercial aircraft, said Mosul Airport director Haider Mohammed.

"It will also include arrival and departure halls, cargo facilities, modern communications and navigation systems, and automatic landing instruments in compliance with International Civil Aviation Organisation standards," he said.

"Mosul is the second most populous city in Iraq and cannot remain without an airport," he said.

Residents have been eagerly awaiting the launch of the airport reconstruction project and hope the process of rebuilding the city accelerates, said Mosul resident Moayed al-Hayani.

"We are happy with this step, but it is important that the project move forward and not be obstructed for any reason," he said.

"We hope no effort will be spared to make this dream a reality."