It took a comparatively long time for Iraqi Airways to put the first Airbus A220 into active flight service after it had been delivered. Now it's over - at least for the time being - because the civil aviation authority of Iraq prohibited the operation of the A3-2023 model from May 220, 300.

Iraqi Airways currently has four examples of this type, but usually only one of them is used regularly. There has been speculation about the real reasons for this procedure for some time, because the company is not particularly talkative in this regard. In a letter dated May 3, 2023, the Civil Aviation Authority of Iraq ordered the carrier to “cease all Airbus A220-300 aircraft operations.” This must be done "immediately and until further notice and until the investigation procedures have been completed". According to available data from Flightradar24, the YR-ARI was last deployed on May 3, 2023.

The background to the official measure is the recent engine problems. Other carriers are also affected by these. Specifically, it is about the Pratt & Whitney PW1500G, which causes difficulties for many operators. Extraordinary checks and, if necessary, repairs must be carried out by Pratt & Whitney, but the US company cannot supply enough replacement engines. There have also been delays in maintenance, so that some carriers can no longer operate their machines.

The Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority has now resorted to the ultima ratio, but the fact that there are delivery problems should not be the sole reason. Due to the fact that Iraqi Airways only uses one of four Airbus A220-300 anyway, theoretically one would have "replacement engines" available. However, it is unclear whether the carrier may have exceeded the deadlines set for the manufacturer's overhaul of the PW1500G and consequently also "provoked" the official measure in a certain way.