Damascus, July 29 (SANA)The first direct flight operated by German carrier LEAV Aviation arrived atDamascus International Airporton Wednesday after departing from Düsseldorf, Germany, carrying Syrian passengers.The flight restores direct service between Düsseldorf and Damascus after a hiatus of nearly 14 years.The inaugural flight marks the start of the airline’s scheduled operations to Syria and is expected to strengthen air links between Syria and Germany, Omar Hosari, head ofSyria’s General Authority of Civil Aviation and Air Transport, said.The departure ceremony at Düsseldorf Airport was attended by Mohammed Baraa Shukri, chargé d’affaires of the Syrian Embassy in Berlin.On Monday, Syria’s General Authority of Civil Aviation announced that twoGerman airlineswould resume direct flights to Syria in a move aimed at strengthening air connectivity between the two countries and expanding the network of destinations served by Syrian airports.The authority said on its Telegram channel that LEAV Aviation would begin scheduled direct flights between Düsseldorf and Damascus on July 29, followed by services between Cologne and Aleppo on Aug. 1.It added that Sundair would launch scheduled direct flights between Berlin and Damascus on Aug. 1, while its direct service between Berlin and Aleppo is scheduled to begin on Oct. 1.According to the authority, the new routes are expected to provide travelers with additional travel options, strengthen air traffic between Syria and Germany, and expand the network of international destinations served by Syrian airports.