Damascus, Sept. 13 (SANA)Syria’s civil aviation sectoris moving beyond the restoration of suspended international routes toward a broader rebuilding of the country’s air transport network, as foreign airlines return,regional airportsreopen and projects advance to expand capacity and connectivity.

After years of disruption and limited international services, Arab, regional and European carriers have gradually restored flights to Syria, initially through Damascus and Aleppo international airports. The recovery has since expanded eastward with Deir Ezzor International Airport returning to service and Qamishli International Airport nearing reopening.

The number of aircraft crossing Syrian airspace has also risen sharply, while airport development projects and new aviation ventures point to a wider expansion of the sector.

One of the early signs of recovery came in March 2025, when Aleppo International Airport reopened following rehabilitation work.Royal Jordanianannounced a test flight to the airport on March 23 to assess security and safety ahead of the resumption of regular services after a 14-year interruption.

European carriers followed. Romania’s Dan Air resumed flights to Syria on June 15, while Air Mediterranean operated a flight to Damascus from Austria and Greece on June 30.

Gulf carriers also began restoring connections. Air Arabia returned to Damascus from Sharjah on July 10, followed six days later by Emirates, which resumed flights after a 13-year interruption.

The first Emirates flight carried 286 passengers, including UAE Minister of Sports Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi. The carrier announced three weekly Damascus-Dubai services and said it had transported nearly 2.5 million passengers between the two cities from the launch of the route in 1988 until its suspension in 2012.

The expansion accelerated in 2026. AJet restored a connection between Istanbul and Aleppo in April, while Pegasus Airlines followed with service from Istanbul in June.Etihad Airwaysbegan scheduled Abu Dhabi-Damascus flights on June 14, and Jazeera Airways launched Kuwait-Aleppo service later that month.

The recovery has also been reflected in traffic through Syrian airspace.

The General Authority of Civil Aviation and Air Transport said on May 4 that the number of aircraft transiting Syrian airspace had risen from just 32 in March, following the closure of the airspace amid regional tensions, to 2,523 in April.

The increase coincided with the resumption of operations by 12 international airlines through Damascus and Aleppo airports.

Omar Hosari,head of the General Authority of Civil Aviation and Air Transport, said efforts were focused on restoring air operations with Europe through direct coordination with international organizations concerned with aviation safety.

Direct European connectivity took another step forward on July 2, when the first Syrian Airlines flight from Amsterdam arrived at Damascus International Airport after years of interruption, launching a service operating three times a week.

Anwar Akkad, CEO of Syrian Aviation Holding Company, described the Amsterdam service as the first in a series of international destinations to be announced.

Air Arabia restored daily Sharjah-Aleppo flights on July 4 after an interruption of about 12 years, while Flydubai announced daily services to Aleppo beginning July 20, making the city its second destination in Syria after Damascus.

Kuwait Airways also returned to Damascus in July.

On July 29, the first LEAV Aviation flight from Düsseldorf arrived at Damascus International Airport, opening the first regular air service between Syria and Germany in 14 years.

The flight followed a final air transport agreement signed by the Syrian and German governments on July 16. Markus Hecken, chargé d’affaires at the German Embassy in Damascus, said the current phase included services from four German airports operated by two German airlines.

Aleppo International Airport reached another milestone on August 1 when it received the inaugural flights of three international airlines in a single day: Türkiye’s SunExpress, Germany’s LEAV Aviation and Saudi Arabia’s Flynas.

Hosari said the development reflected the accelerating recovery of Syrian civil aviation and growing confidence among international carriers in the sector.

He said the General Authority was working to attract more airlines, expand the network of destinations and strengthen Aleppo airport’s role as a main gateway linking Syria with the world.

The expansion in air services is being accompanied by plans to increase the airport’s capacity.

The General Authority said on September 11 that development work at the existing Aleppo International Airport would begin in early 2027, raising annual passenger capacity to more than 2 million.

The project is intended to improve operational efficiency, technical capabilities and passenger services while preparations continue for a new Aleppo International Airport.

The plan follows talks in Jeddah from September 7 to 10 between aSyrian civil aviationdelegation headed by Hosari and representatives of Saudi Arabia’s Elaf Investment Fund, led by Bin Dawood Investment Group.

The agreement covers the development and operation of the existing airport as well as construction of a new international facility. Earlier project information indicates the new airport will be developed in stages, with initial capacity of about 6 million passengers annually, eventually rising to 12 million.

It also includes financing for an integrated navigation radar system covering Syrian airspace.

The expansion is no longer limited to Damascus and Aleppo.

Deir Ezzor International Airport returned to service on August 5 after rehabilitation work and years of suspension. Syrian Airlines resumed flights from Damascus, while Jazeera Airways launched regular direct Kuwait-Deir Ezzor service on August 8. A World Food Programme flight arrived two days later as humanitarian air operations resumed.

International services expanded further on September 1 when German carrier LEAV Aviation operated its first direct flight from Cologne to Deir Ezzor, becoming the first European carrier to provide scheduled service to the airport.

Hosari said three additional regional destinations were being prepared, with specialized technical teams expected to inspect the airport’s equipment, infrastructure and safety and security procedures.

“The authority’s policy is based on developing Syria’s airport network according to the operational and economic role of each airport and actual travel demand, rather than limiting international air connectivity to the main airports,” Hosari said.

Qamishli International Airport is also nearing a return to service as rehabilitation work enters its final stages.

The General Authority began rehabilitating the airport on February 25 and said its reopening would help reconnect Hasakah province and the wider eastern region with Syria’s national air transport network.

Alongside the return of foreign airlines and rehabilitation of airports, new aviation ventures are also moving ahead.

During a visit to Riyadh on September 7, Hosari met Flynas CEO Bandar Almohanna to review implementation of the agreement establishing “flynas Syria” and discuss expanding civil aviation cooperation between Syria andSaudi Arabia.

The meeting followed talks between Hosari and Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation President Abdulaziz al-Duailej on boosting air traffic and aviation coordination.

In February, the Syrian General Authority signed an agreement to establish “nas Syria” as a new low-cost airline as part of a broader package of strategic Syrian-Saudi commercial agreements.

Authorities are also drawing up plans to convert Mezzeh Airport in Damascus from a military facility into an airport for limited civilian operations, focusing on private and executive aviation.

Mustafa Khairallah, head of the Media Department at the General Authority, said the airport would complement Damascus International Airport. Preliminary work includes rubble removal and upgrades to air navigation infrastructure, while technical, operational, environmental and regulatory studies are underway.

Beyond infrastructure and airline operations, the restored routes are facilitating family reunification after years of separation and reducing reliance on costly indirect flights and transit connections for Syrians living in Europe and theGulf.

The connections also strengthen expatriates’ links with their homeland and facilitate the return of skilled professionals.

Economically, the expanding network can support trade, investment and tourism and strengthen Damascus and Aleppo as regional economic centers. Plans for Aleppo airport also include expanding passenger and cargo traffic and supporting industrial and commercial activity in northern Syria.

The resumption of flights has accompanied improving aviation cooperation with Arab and European countries, including the air transport agreement with Germany and expanding coordination with Saudi Arabia.

From only a handful of flights in early 2025 to more than a dozen international airlines operating through Damascus and Aleppo by mid-2026, Syria’s aviation network has undergone a marked transformation.

Routes now connect Syria withTürkiye, Germany, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the Netherlands, Austria, Greece and Romania.

At the same time, Aleppo is preparing for major capacity expansion, Deir Ezzor has returned to domestic and international service, Qamishli is nearing reopening, Mezzeh is being considered for limited civilian operations and a new low-cost airline venture is under development.

What began with the restoration of routes suspended for years is developing into a broader rebuilding of Syria’s aviation network, reconnecting Syrian provinces, linking Syrians abroad with their homeland and expanding the country’s connections with regional and international air transport networks.