FBOs at Baghdad International Airport ORBI BGW

Airport security

The ASTORISK rating of 2 — MODERATE reflects the U.S. State Department's Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory for Iraq, while the UK FCDO advises against all travel to Iraq due to ongoing regional tensions.

Iraqi terrorist militia groups aligned with Iran conducted multiple drone attacks in the vicinity of Baghdad International Airport on April 8, with threats to conduct additional terrorist attacks against U.S. citizens and targets throughout Iraq.

Iran continues to strike civilian infrastructure across the region including airports, and targets locations associated with the United States.

Vehicle access requires multiple security checkpoints before reaching the terminal perimeter, with luggage and personnel screening immediately upon entering the terminal building. Security procedures include primary screening, passport control, and often final security screening near gates.

The airport perimeter is secured by military forces, with terminals operating under enhanced security checks and reduced staffing since the recent reopening.

Customs, immigration and regulatory

• Hours: H24 — customs operates in conjunction with flight schedules on a 24-hour basis
• clearance times are variable and dependent on volume and security procedures Iraqi Customs Authority controls all arrivals and departures
• baggage subject to scanning and physical inspection
• cargo clearance is subject to heightened scrutiny and potential delays due to the prevailing security environment

Ground corridor

• AVOID ADVISORY: All major Western governments — FCDO, US State Department, DFAT, and others — currently advise against all travel to Iraq, citing active armed conflict, terrorism, kidnapping, and ongoing militia strikes against Western personnel and infrastructure
• the threat environment in Baghdad is CRITICAL and movement outside secured zones carries extreme personal risk. The airport road corridor connecting ORBI to central Baghdad and the International Zone is a historically high-risk transit route subject to militia activity, improvised explosive device threat, and sporadic closure with little or no notice
• independent or unvetted surface movement along this route is strongly inadvisable. Unvetted or informal transport from this airport presents an acute personal security risk
• pre-arranged vehicles organised through a vetted ground support team with route reconnaissance and communications protocols are the only acceptable transport modality for any personnel required to operate in this environment. Any personnel movement must be coordinated through a professional security organisation with in-country presence, and all ground movement plans should include contingency routing and real-time communications support.

City threat summary

The ASTORISK rating of 2 — MODERATE reflects the U.S. State Department's Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory for Iraq, while the UK FCDO advises against all travel to Iraq due to ongoing regional tensions.

Iraqi terrorist militia groups aligned with Iran conducted multiple drone attacks in the vicinity of Baghdad International Airport on April 8, with threats to conduct additional terrorist attacks against U.S. citizens and targets throughout Iraq.

Iran continues to strike civilian infrastructure across the region including airports, and targets locations associated with the United States.

Country overview

Iraq is assessed at the highest threat tier by all major Western governments, with the U.S. State Department maintaining its Level 4: Do Not Travel advisory reaffirmed on August 29, 2026, now augmented by a newly added Crime risk indicator.

The security environment has deteriorated sharply following the onset of Operation Epic Fury against Iran in February 2026, which triggered an accelerated U.S. force realignment, a surge in armed group attacks, and Iranian and Israeli strikes on targets across Iraqi territory including the Kurdistan Region.

Iraq's newly formed government under Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi is incomplete, confronting a September 2026 deadline to disarm pro-Iran militias while managing sovereign airspace violations by multiple foreign militaries and a severe contraction in oil revenues.

Higher-risk locations nearby

• Baghdad ORBI CRITICAL