An Iraqi private company will launch a direct weekly flight between Iraq and China, a senior official of the state-run Iraqi Airways told Xinhua on Monday.

"The Iraqi State Enterprise for civil flight has authorized the Rafidain Company to operate weekly flights from Baghdad to Guangzhou, a city in southern China," said Zaid al-Sarraf, deputy director general of the Iraqi Airways.

Sarraf believed that direct flights will enhance bilateral economic ties as many Iraqi businessmen now have to fly to China via a third country.

He said the two-way ticket from Baghdad to Guangzhou would cost 1,300 U.S. dollars and the one-way ticket would be 700 dollars.

Sarraf expected the flights will commence soon since over 75 percent of the preparation work has been completed.

Iraqi Airways used to operate a weekly flight between Baghdad and Beijing, capital of China until the Gulf war in 1990.

Source: Xinhua