British Airways is hoping to reactivate a 1980s bilateral treaty with Saddam Hussein's government which allowed the airline to provide scheduled flights between London and Baghdad.
BA is racing with Virgin Atlantic to restore an air link to the war-torn country. Both airlines want to cash in on a surge in travel among businesspeople and aid workers as the task of rebuilding Iraq begins.
BA declined to comment. But insiders said the airline feels it has the edge over its rival because of a long-forgotten treaty between British and Iraqi ministers, which was signed when relations were cordial. The agreement allowed BA to fly to Baghdad -- a privilege the airline last used in 1987.
Industry sources said BA saw no reason why a change in regime should invalidate the treaty. The airline is preparing to "dust it down" as soon as American troops have patched up Baghdad airport -- which suffered extensive damage, including a crater in the runway, during fierce fighting two weeks ago.
BA and Virgin have both offered their services to the government to fly short-term aid to Iraq.
They hope that one-off flights will lead to the opportunity to begin regular, profitable services within weeks.
A Virgin Atlantic spokesman said chairman Sir Richard Branson had been "flooded with calls from the public and from staff asking what we could do to alleviate suffering."
He continued: "Once sanctions are lifted, under a new government, Iraq will start to trade more freely. Initially, there will be humanitarian traffic but business traffic will flow from that."
Expatriate Iraqis are expected to visit the country in large numbers once links are restored.
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