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Airportist Scores and guides are editorial content. Always verify live rules, terminals, and operational alerts with official airport and airline sources.

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BSRORMM

Basrah International Airport

Basrah, IQ

Airportist Score

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BSRORMMModerate

Basra International Airport

Basra, Iraq · Middle East

Southern Iraq's gateway and an Iraqi Airways hub, with 737,380 passengers in 2024, about three-quarters of them international. One terminal with separate international and domestic halls serves Iraqi Airways, Qatar Airways, Emirates, flydubai, Air Arabia, Royal Jordanian, Turkish Airlines and Pegasus. Facilities are basic: a duty-free shop and simple food, and no verified lounge. An e-visa is needed before travel, Careem works for the trip into town, and Iraqi airspace closed for 38 days in spring 2026.

Airportist Score

3.7/ 10

Rough

Ease of use5.0
Comfort & amenities3.5
Food & retail3.0
Ground access3.5
Reliability4.0
Lounges1.5

How the score works

An editorial 0–10 score. The overall is exactly the weighted sum of six traveler categories — not a Google rating and not a poll.

25%Ease of use — Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.
20%Comfort & amenities — Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.
15%Food & retail — Food and retail quality and variety.
15%Ground access — Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.
15%Reliability — Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.
10%Lounges — Worth-it density and access quality.

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Security

Fastest

Cheapest

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On time

Flying from Basrah?

Enter your flight for a door-to-door plan: when to leave, security, the lounge you can use and your gate. No account needed.

Flight numberDate (optional)

BSRGuide

Traveler reviews

What travelers say

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BSRORMMModerate

Basra International Airport

Basra, Iraq · Middle East

Southern Iraq's gateway and an Iraqi Airways hub, with 737,380 passengers in 2024, about three-quarters of them international. One terminal with separate international and domestic halls serves Iraqi Airways, Qatar Airways, Emirates, flydubai, Air Arabia, Royal Jordanian, Turkish Airlines and Pegasus. Facilities are basic: a duty-free shop and simple food, and no verified lounge. An e-visa is needed before travel, Careem works for the trip into town, and Iraqi airspace closed for 38 days in spring 2026.

Airportist Score

3.7/ 10

Rough

Ease of use5.0
Comfort & amenities3.5
Food & retail3.0
Ground access3.5
Reliability4.0
Lounges1.5

How the score works

An editorial 0–10 score. The overall is exactly the weighted sum of six traveler categories — not a Google rating and not a poll.

25%Ease of use — Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.
20%Comfort & amenities — Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.
15%Food & retail — Food and retail quality and variety.
15%Ground access — Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.
15%Reliability — Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.
10%Lounges — Worth-it density and access quality.

Compare BSR with another airport

Typical security
25 min
editorial average, not live
Fastest to city
About 30–45 min to central Basra (estimate)
Airport taxi or hotel car
Cheapest to city
Careem
Fare shown upfront in the app · About 30–45 min to central Basra (estimate)
On time
70%
of departures
Terminals
1
Passengers / year
737,380 (2024; 558,880 international) per COSIT / Iraq Civil Aviation Authority

BSR security wait times

4 photos

BSRGuide

Most important tips

Know before you go

A compact traveler cheat sheet for timing, terminals, food, and disruption checks.

Timing

Get your e-visa before you fly

No visa on arrival; e-visa before boarding.

Iraq has no visa on arrival for most visitors outside the Kurdistan Region. Apply for the federal e-visa on the official portal before travel; airlines check it before boarding. A Kurdistan Region visa is not valid for Basra. Allow extra time at the airport for document and security checks.

Terminal

One terminal, separate halls

One terminal; declare large amounts of cash.

International and domestic flights use separate halls in the same terminal complex. The duty-free shop is in the international departure hall. Bring cash: you must declare more than 200,000 Iraqi dinars or more than 10,000 US dollars (or the equivalent) when you arrive or leave.

Food

Expect basic food

Basic snacks only; eat beforehand.

The airport publishes no list of cafés or restaurants, and travel guides describe only basic snack and coffee counters. Eat before you arrive for long waits. Alcohol is banned in Iraq, so none is sold.

Status

Check your flight before leaving

Closed for 38 days in 2026; check before you go.

Iraqi airspace was closed from 28 February to 8 April 2026, and some foreign airlines took weeks longer to return. Governments warn that regional tensions can close airspace again with little notice, and dust storms can delay flights in spring and summer. Check your flight with the airline on the day you travel.

Live conditions

Right now at BSR

Security waits and operational status from official feeds, where the airport publishes them.

Honest verdict

Who this airport works for

Best for

Direct flights to southern Iraq from Doha, Dubai, Sharjah, Amman and Istanbul
Oil and energy business trips to Basra
Iraqi Airways domestic links to Baghdad and Erbil

Watch out for

Airspace closures at short notice (28 February to 8 April 2026)
No visa on arrival: e-visa needed before boarding
No verified lounge and only basic food
Government travel warnings for Basra province

Airportist Score

Why this score

Overall is the published weighted sum of six categories. No holistic fudge on top.

Ease of use · 25%

Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.

5.0

Comfort & amenities · 20%

Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.

3.5

Food & retail · 15%

Food and retail quality and variety.

3.0

Ground access · 15%

Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.

3.5

Reliability · 15%

Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.

4.0

Lounges · 10%

Worth-it density and access quality.

1.5

Key stats

Editorial reference figures, not live readings.

Annual passengers

737,380 (2024; 558,880 international) per COSIT / Iraq Civil Aviation Authority

Terminals

1

On-time departures

70%

Typical security

25 min

Guide quick facts

From the editorial guide for BSR.

Updated Oct 28, 2026

Basra International Airport (IATA BSR, ICAO ORMM) serves Basra, Iraq's main port and oil city. It lies north-west of the city; Iraq's statistics office puts it about 20 km from the centre.
737,380 passengers used it in 2024, 558,880 of them on international flights and 178,500 on domestic ones, according to Iraq's Central Statistical Organization (COSIT), using civil aviation authority data. In 2023 it handled 642,414 passengers.
Iraqi Airways is the largest airline, with 411,935 passengers in 2024. It flies to Baghdad and Erbil and abroad to cities including Beirut and Cairo.
Foreign airlines in October 2026: Qatar Airways (Doha), Emirates and flydubai (Dubai), Air Arabia (Sharjah), Royal Jordanian (Amman), Turkish Airlines (Istanbul) and Pegasus (Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen).
One passenger terminal with separate international and domestic halls, and a single 4,000 m runway. The first phase of a terminal rehabilitation was completed in early 2026, and the transport ministry says further development work is ongoing.
Iraqi airspace was closed from 28 February to 8 April 2026 during the US–Israel–Iran war. Basra has operated normally since, and a September 2026 report that it had closed was officially denied.

24 official sources

https://www.cosit.gov.iq/documents/transportation%20and%20communication/transportation/fullreports/eartrans/%D8%A7%D8%AD%D8%B5%D8%A7%D8%A1%20%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%86%D9%82%D9%84%20%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D9%88%D9%8A%20%D9%81%D9%8A%20%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D8%B7%D8%A7%D8%B9%20%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D9%83%D9%88%D9%85%D9%8A%20%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%A7%D9%85%20%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%86%D8%A9%202024.pdf
https://www.cosit.gov.iq/documents/transportation%20and%20communication/transportation/fullreports/eartrans/%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%86%D9%82%D9%84%20%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AC%D9%88%D9%8A%202023%20%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%89%20%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B7%D8%A8%D8%B9%D8%A9.pdf
https://sail-iq.com/?p=33232
https://2lnr.com/routes/bsr
https://exa.ai/library/flights/board/BSR?direction=departures&date=2026-10-28&end=2026-10-31&v=ce23e5b5
https://www.flight.info/IA906
https://www.airportia.com/flights/ia135/basrah/beirut/
https://en.964media.com/46764/
https://www.rudaw.net/english/categories/iraq/949500
https://en.964media.com/47490/
https://www.iraqinews.com/iraq/iraq-rules-out-airspace-closure-launches-9-international-routes-2026/
https://dinaropinions.com/basra-airport-settles-the-debate-no-closure-flights-continue-as-normal/
https://b95project.com.tr/blog/28
https://almadapaper.net/449036/
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/iraq/warnings-and-insurance
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/iraq/entry-requirements
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/iraq/safety-and-security
https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/middle-east/iraq
https://iq.usembassy.gov/security-alert-u-s-mission-iraq-october-18-2026/
https://evisa.iq/en
https://www.iraqdutyfree.com/airports/2
https://www.careem.com/en-AE/iraq-rides/
https://www.prioritypass.com/en-GB/lounges/iraq
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basra_International_Airport

Full guide

Explore the BSR guide

Each section answers one trip question in depth.

Map
Basrah International Airport and the Basra city center
City center
View Map
Getting There
2 ways into the city, compared on time, cost, and luggage.
Fastest: Airport taxi or hotel carCheapest: Careem
View Getting There
Lounges
Lounges: some travel websites list a "Royal Lounge" in the international departure area, but they disagree on hours and access. It is not in the Priority Pass directory, which lists only Baghdad in Iraq. Plan to wait in the main hall.
View Lounges
Traveler Tips
Careem operates in Basra and shows the fare upfront in the app, a good reference before you negotiate with a street taxi.
9 tips & hacks
View Traveler Tips
Amenities
4 rated amenities — food, Wi-Fi, quiet spots, family, and sleep.
Iraq Duty FreeSnack and coffee countersRoyal Lounge (unverified)
View Amenities
Reviews
Editorial and traveler reviews — what people actually complain about.
View Reviews

Basrah International Airport and the Basra city center

This airport BSR
City center Basra

Terminal navigation guide

Terminal-change and gate-area notes pulled from the markdown guide.

From Terminals & Navigation

One passenger terminal complex with separate international and domestic halls.
The duty-free shop (about 300 m²) is in the departure hall, selling perfume, watches and electronics.
The first phase of a 14-month rehabilitation project was completed in February 2026. The transport ministry said in August 2026 that development work at the airport is continuing, so expect some building work.
Single runway, 14/32, 4,000 m long.
No official airport website could be verified. Use your airline for flight status and special assistance.

Ground transport guide

City-transfer, rideshare, train, and parking guidance from the markdown guide.

From Ground Transport & Parking

Careem (ride-hailing app): operates in Basra around the clock, with the fare shown upfront.
Taxi: unmetered airport taxis. Agree the fare before you get in. Prices are not published.
Hotel transfer: many business travellers pre-book a hotel car so a named driver meets them at arrivals.
No train or public bus to the city has been verified. Allow about 30–45 minutes to the city centre, more at checkpoints and in rush hour (estimate).
Parking prices and car rental at the airport could not be verified.

Ride to Basra

Pickup at BSR. Where the app supports it, dropoff is set to Basra city center for a live price.

To city center

Basra

~11 km

Typical fare

See app

Live quotes open in the ride app

Fixed-price transfers

GetTransfer quotes Kiwitaxi quotes

Compare prepaid private transfers to Basra — useful overnight, with luggage, or when you want a locked-in fare before you land.

CheapestBest for luggage

Careem

Careem operates in Basra 24/7.

Time to city

About 30–45 min to central Basra (estimate)

Cost

Fare shown upfront in the app

Tip: Check the app price before negotiating with a taxi, even if you do not book.

Fastest

Airport taxi or hotel car

Unmetered airport taxis; many business travellers pre-book a hotel car.

Time to city

About 30–45 min to central Basra (estimate)

Cost

Not published; agree the fare first

Tip: Settle the price and currency (dinars or US dollars) before loading your bags.

Lounge & amenity notes

Lounge, food, and quiet-spot picks pulled from the markdown guide.

From Lounges, Food & Amenities

Lounges: some travel websites list a "Royal Lounge" in the international departure area, but they disagree on hours and access. It is not in the Priority Pass directory, which lists only Baghdad in Iraq. Plan to wait in the main hall.
Food: the airport publishes no outlet list. Expect basic snack and coffee counters rather than full restaurants.
Shopping: Iraq Duty Free runs the shop in the departure hall. It also lets you order online and collect at the airport.
Wi-Fi, ATMs, showers and sleeping areas could not be verified. Carry enough cash in dinars or US dollars for the trip into town.

basic

Iraq Duty Free

Shopping

About 300 m² shop in the departure hall selling perfume, watches and electronics; order online and collect at the airport.

basic

Snack and coffee counters

Food

Basic food only, according to travel guides; outlet names, hours and prices are not published.

basic

Royal Lounge (unverified)

Has Lounge

Listed by some travel websites with conflicting hours and access; not in Priority Pass. Do not count on entry.

good

Careem pickups

Easy Transport

Careem operates in Basra 24/7 with upfront fares, a useful reference against unmetered airport taxis.

Editorial guide tricks

The markdown guide's highest-signal tactics before the data-backed tips below.

From Best Airport Tricks & Hacks

Careem operates in Basra and shows the fare upfront in the app, a good reference before you negotiate with a street taxi.
Airport taxis have no meters. Agree the price, and the currency, before you get in, or book a hotel transfer.
Qatar Airways and Royal Jordanian (oneworld) and Turkish Airlines (Star Alliance) are the alliance options for earning miles and status. Iraqi Airways, flydubai, Air Arabia and Pegasus are in no alliance.
Dubai has the most frequencies, with Emirates and flydubai. Use it as a backup when other Gulf flights are full or cancelled.
Check your flight on the day you travel. The US Embassy points travellers to live flight-tracking for Basra because closures can come at short notice.

01

SecurityTraveler Tips & Hacks

Get the e-visa before you fly

No visa on arrival in federal Iraq; airlines check before boarding.

Apply for the Iraqi e-visa on the official portal before travel. A Kurdistan Region visa is not valid for Basra. You must declare more than 200,000 Iraqi dinars or more than 10,000 US dollars when you arrive or leave.

Pro

Smooth boarding and immigration

Watch-out

Extra paperwork before the trip

02

TransportTraveler Tips & Hacks

Check Careem before taking a taxi

Careem shows an upfront fare; airport taxis are unmetered.

Careem operates in Basra around the clock. If you take an airport taxi, agree the fare and currency before getting in, or pre-book a hotel transfer.

Pro

Fair price without haggling

Watch-out

App needs mobile data on arrival

03

LoungeTraveler Tips & Hacks

Do not count on a lounge

No lounge accepts Priority Pass here.

Some travel websites list a Royal Lounge in international departures, but they disagree on hours and access, and Priority Pass lists only Baghdad in Iraq. Plan to wait in the main hall.

Pro

Short walk to the gates

Watch-out

No verified lounge for card holders or elites

04

NavigationTraveler Tips & Hacks

Check your flight on the day

Airspace closed for 38 days in spring 2026.

Iraqi airspace closed from 28 February to 8 April 2026, and some foreign airlines returned weeks later. Dust storms can also delay flights in spring and summer. Confirm your flight with the airline before leaving for the airport.

Pro

Avoids a wasted trip to the airport

Watch-out

Schedules can change at short notice

Entry requirements

Iraq (IQ)

Sign in and add a passport to see the entry requirement for Iraq.

Passports are saved in profile settings. Check the official site before you travel.

Published alerts

Editorial profile notes — not a live alert feed. Live operations are on Overview and in the panel below.

Published alerts

Typical operations snapshot — editorial, not live news. File dated Oct 28, 2026.

Moderate

Iraqi airspace was closed from 28 February to 8 April 2026 during the US–Israel–Iran war; Qatari and Turkish carriers returned to Basra later than other airlines.The UK advises against all but essential travel to Basra province and against all travel within 5 km of the Iranian and Kuwaiti borders; Australia and the US advise against all travel to Iraq. They warn that airspace can close at short notice.On-time share, delay minutes, cancellations and security wait are HonestAirport estimates; the airport publishes no punctuality figures.

Typical delay mix from the same editorial snapshot — not a live feed. Current operations are on Overview.

Typical departure delays30 min · 30%

Typical arrival delays30 min · 30%

Typical cancellations0 min · 4%

Live operations

Live operational signals from Flighty or FAA, plus checkpoint waits where airports publish them.

Traveler reviews

What travelers say

Write a review

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