International Flights Resume in Syria for the First Time Since Assad’s Fall

International Flights Resume in Syria for the First Time Since Assad’s Fall
Damascus, January 5, 2025: Damascus airport is set to resume international flights next Tuesday, following Qatar Airways' announcement to restart flights to Damascus after 13 years. This marks the first time international flights will operate from the airport since the fall of Bashar al-Assad's government.

The airport had been closed since December 8, when pro-Assad forces withdrew from Damascus after armed opposition fighters entered the city following a rapid offensive that began on November 27. Syria’s state news agency SANA reported, “From Tuesday, we will begin receiving international flights at Damascus International Airport,” quoting Ashhad al-Salibi, head of the General Authority of Civil Aviation and Air Transport.

He added, "We want to reassure Arab and international airlines that we have started the rehabilitation of Aleppo and Damascus airports, so they can accommodate flights from around the world."

Al Jazeera's Hashim Ahelbarra reported from Damascus, stating that this announcement carries "significant political and economic implications" for the war-torn country. The new administration has been engaging with key regional players, particularly Qatar, to rebuild Damascus airport to meet international safety standards.

“They aim to send a message that life is returning to normal in Syria and to provide an opportunity for hundreds of thousands of Syrians living abroad to return home. Additionally, they want to demonstrate to the international community that the new administration, despite the situation across the country, is capable of maintaining safety standards.”

International aid planes and foreign diplomatic delegations have already begun landing in Syria. Domestic flights resumed on December 18, when a flight departed from Damascus for Aleppo, according to AFP.

Syrian Airlines will resume flights from Damascus to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates starting Tuesday, an employee told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak to the media.

Last Thursday, Qatar Airways announced that it would resume flights to the Syrian capital after nearly 13 years, starting with three weekly flights from Tuesday.