<h2 class="blog-hed2 pb-lg-4 pb-3 text-lg-center">History Erbil International Airport</h2>
<p class="blog-para">The airport was built at the beginning of the 1970s as an Iraqi military base. The airstrip was used as a military base until 1991 by the Ba'ath Party regime as a result of United Nations Security Council establishing a no-fly zone over northern Iraq. After the 2003 US invasion, the Kurdistan Regional Government took over administrative rule of the region. On 26 May 2005, the airport was given the ICAO airport code, ORER. Endowed with natural resources including oil, natural gas and other minerals, investment in Iraq has increased substantially since 2005. The city of Erbil has been a large recipient of foreign investments. Due to the growing need for safe access into the country, the Regional Government invested US$500 million in the construction of a modern airport.</p>
<p class="blog-para">The old Erbil airport covered 7,000 m2 (75,000 sq ft), and was divided into departure and arrival halls. It had three gates and a 2,800 m (9,200 ft) long runway with an ILS system. The Kurdistan International Bank, a Tourism Information office, the airline company&rsquo;s offices, duty-free shops, a cafeteria, and the Korek Telecom office were located inside the terminal.</p>
<p class="blog-para">The warehouse offered cargo space amounting to 4,320 m2 (46,500 sq ft) and consisted of an import and an export section. The cargo was handled by Dnata, a Dubai-based company.</p>
<p class="blog-para">A newly built, US$550 million airport was opened on 5 July 2005. The new airport is next to the old airport (previously a military field) and has one of the world's longest runways, 4,800 m &times; 75 m (15,748 ft &times; 246 ft) and is equipped for ILS CAT II operations.The airport's new terminal has duty-free shops and currency exchange offices. The terminal also has VIP areas for business jets, and there is a VIP terminal for visiting dignitaries and diplomats for the purpose of achieving international airport standards.</p>
<p class="blog-para">In 2010 Erbil International Airport had the least expensive aviation fuel in Iraq (at 83 US cents per litre).</p>
<p class="blog-para">From 29 September 2017, until 14 March 2018, following the 2017 Kurdistan Region independence referendum, all commercial international flights were suspended. The airport remained open for domestic, humanitarian, military, and diplomatic flights.</p>
<h2 class="blog-hed2 pb-lg-4">Transportation Erbil International Airport</h2>
<p class="blog-para">To get to the city centre, you need to arrange a private transfer or catch a taxi.</p>
<p class="blog-para">There is a taxi stand just outside the terminal or you can order one from inside the airport building.</p>
<p class="blog-para">There are currently no bus services from the airport to the city, but there is a shuttle bus from the terminal to the car park.</p>
<ul>
<li class="blog-li"><strong>Car hire: </strong>Local car hire companies operate from Erbil Airport.</li>
<li class="blog-li"><strong>Car parking:</strong> There are both short-stay (up to 24 hours) and long-stay car parks at the airport. There is parking for 500 cars.</li>
</ul>
<p><img class="img-fluid p-lg-0 rounded w-100 " title="History Erbil International Airport" src="../../main/img/airport/ebril/3.webp" alt="History Erbil International Airport"></p>