International Flights Resume at Damascus Airport After Long Suspension

Photo: Instagram/@syrianairlines24

On Tuesday, international flights resumed at Syria’s main airport in Damascus, marking the first time since Islamist-led rebels overthrew President Bashar al-Assad last month. The excitement was palpable at the airport as passengers arriving from Qatar cheered and chanted, some waving Syria's three-star independence flag, which has been adopted by the new authorities opposing Assad’s rule.

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The director of Damascus Airport, Anis Fallouh, expressed optimism about the development, calling it "a new beginning." He confirmed that both outgoing and incoming international flights had resumed. The first flight from the airport was bound for Sharjah, in the United Arab Emirates.

A historic moment came when the first commercial Qatari flight in nearly 13 years landed in Damascus around 1:00 p.m. (10:00 GMT). Not long before that, a Syrian Airlines flight to Sharjah took off at 11:45 a.m. (08:45 GMT), marking the first international commercial flight to depart from the airport since December 8.
For many Syrians, the return of international flights signaled hope and a sense of progress. The three-star independence flag, long associated with the opposition, was painted on the plane as a symbol of change.

Although international aid flights and foreign diplomatic planes had already been arriving in Syria, the resumption of regular commercial flights marked a significant step forward. Domestic flights within Syria had already been resumed. Amal Jeroudi, a 45-year-old Syrian, expressed relief as she waited for her flight to Dubai, where she was meeting her relatives. She explained that she had been worried the airport would remain closed, especially with her visa about to expire. She also shared that, in the past, airport staff had been unkind, but now they were friendly and welcoming.

The state news agency, SANA, also reported that "the first Syrian plane after liberation" had taken off, heading to Sharjah with 145 passengers on board.
Qatar Airways, which had suspended flights to Damascus nearly 13 years ago, resumed service with three weekly flights. Fallouh confirmed that the first incoming flight was a Qatar Airways plane. Additionally, Jordan's Petra news agency reported that Royal Jordanian Airlines had sent a test flight to Damascus on Tuesday to assess the airport’s condition. Civil aviation official Haitham Misto described the flight as a "message of support and solidarity" with Syria, highlighting the importance of evaluating the airport’s readiness for regular operations.

Syria’s new authorities have sought international support, and Qatar has offered assistance in resuming operations at Damascus airport. On December 18, the first flight since the rebels took control of the country departed for Aleppo, Syria’s second-largest city in the north.

Syria’s foreign minister, Asaad al-Shaibani, has been actively engaging with Arab nations, including visits to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE, in an effort to rebuild international relationships and foster cooperation.