Dubai's Emirates airline will start flights to Iraq in July as it looks to benefit from increasing traffic on the back of reconstruction efforts in the war-torn nation, according to a Reuters report.

The Arab world's biggest carrier, which has not flown to the country before, said in a statement the destination is one of six it plans to launch this year.

Overall violence in Iraq has fallen sharply although the March 7 election that produced no clear winner has fuelled tensions, and more airlines are opening routes.

Flights from Baghdad to other Middle Eastern destinations have jumped in recent years, and airlines have slowly begun opening up direct routes to European destinations.

Emirates will start with three flights a week to Baghdad by an Airbus A330-200 aircraft.

The carrier is launching flights to Tokyo, Amsterdam, Prague, Madrid and Dakar this year.