GERALD BUTT / NICOSIA
The closure of Baghdad and Basra airports has caused a surge in passenger and cargo traffic in Jordan and Kuwait.
Kuwait City has reported a 54% increase in movements in July compared with the same month last year. Passenger numbers last month were up 10% on July last year to 464,237, while cargo movements showed an 18% increase.
The airport says while there has been a rise in cargo consignments destined for Baghdad, passenger traffic "is mostly in the other direction, with a large number of Iraqis escaping the chaos and lack of facilities in their country".
The situation is similar at Amman International Airport. Its July passenger figures were up by 14% on July 2002.
Source: Flight International