Aigle Azur, a private French carrier’s an Airbus A319 recently patted down at Baghdad’s heavily-guarded international airport before morning. It was carrying 111 passengers and most of them were businessman.

Even though France angrily opposed the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, it is made clear by the French government that it is looking forward to collect the financial benefits of reconstruction a country. In spite of its vast and under-utilized oil resources the country remains in mess up.

Anne-Marie Idrac, France’s trade minister was on the flight. He said that it’s impossible for French business not to take part in the renovation of Iraq.

European airlines have stay away from Baghdad from the time when the United Nations forced sanctions on Iraq in 1990 after Saddam Hussein ordered the attack of Kuwait.

France’s ambassador to Baghdad, Boris Boillon, and flag down the coming of aircraft as “remarkable”. He called it the first planned European flight to the city from a western capital during 20 years.

Last year a privately-owned Scandinavian airline for a short time flew flights from Copenhagen to Baghdad, However after some days it collapsed with induction the service.