Baghdad, Asharq Al-Awsat- Iraqi Transportation Minister Salam al-Maliki has said that all airfares between Baghdad and other cities in the world will be reviewed. He announced that air flights between Baghdad and London and Cairo would start at the beginning of next month. He also said that there are no plans of buying new aircrafts at this time because of the Iraqi Government's limited resources.

Al-Maliki told Asharq al-Awsat, "We are thinking of lowering airfares on domestic flights and foreign flights to Jordan and Syria after the Syrian Airline Company inaugurates its weekly flights to Iraq."

He also said that Iraq has no intention at this time of buying new aircrafts because of the government's inability to complete a transaction contract. Leased aircraft will be used on regular flights to Arab and foreign countries as well as on domestic routes.

Al-Maliki added that a delegation from the Iraqi Airline Company would visit Tehran to sign an agreement to permit the landing of Iranian and Iraqi aircrafts at Baghdad and Tehran airports. There will be regular flights to carry passengers between the Iraqi neighboring countries. The Iraqi minister affirmed that the first flight between Baghdad and London would take place at the beginning of September. He added that an Iraqi delegation would visit the Egyptian capital next week to prepare for flights between the two countries.