Syria rebuilds its aviation network with new connections

Syria’s civil aviation sector is moving beyond the restoration of suspended international routes, with efforts underway to rebuild and expand the country’s air transport network. Foreign airlines are returning, regional airports are reopening, and new projects are being developed to increase capacity and connectivity.

After years of disruption and limited international services, Arab, regional, and European carriers have gradually resumed 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 flying through Syrian airspace has also increased significantly. At the same time, airport development projects and new aviation ventures are supporting the broader expansion of the country’s civil aviation sector, according to the Syrian Arab News Agency.

Syria’s international air links begin to recover

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

European carriers soon 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 resumed flights to Damascus from Sharjah on July 10, followed six days later by Emirates, which restored services after a 13-year interruption.

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

The expansion gained further momentum in 2026. AJet restored flights between Istanbul and Aleppo in April, followed by Pegasus Airlines, which resumed service from Istanbul in June. Etihad Airways began scheduled flights between Abu Dhabi and Damascus on June 14, while Jazeera Airways launched services between Kuwait and Aleppo later that month.

Air traffic through Syrian airspace rises

The recovery has also been reflected in the increase in air 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 rose from just 32 in March, following the closure of the airspace amid regional tensions, to 2,523 in April.

The sharp 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 connectivity with Europe through direct coordination with international organisations responsible for aviation safety.

European connectivity expands

Direct connectivity with Europe took another step forward on July 2, when the first Syrian Airlines flight from Amsterdam arrived at Damascus International Airport after years of interruption. The airline will operate the service three times a week.

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

Air Arabia resumed daily flights between Sharjah and Aleppo on July 4 after an interruption of around 12 years. Flydubai also announced daily flights to Aleppo from July 20, making the city its second destination in Syria after Damascus.

Kuwait Airways also resumed flights to Damascus in July.

On July 29, the first LEAV Aviation flight from Düsseldorf arrived at Damascus International Airport, launching 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 includes services from four German airports operated by two German airlines.

Aleppo airport prepares for capacity expansion

Aleppo International Airport reached another milestone on August 1, when it welcomed inaugural flights from 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 airlines in the country’s aviation sector.

He added that the General Authority was working to attract more carriers, expand the network of destinations and strengthen Aleppo International Airport’s role as a key gateway connecting Syria with the rest of the world.

The expansion of air services is also 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 is scheduled to begin in early 2027, increasing its annual passenger capacity to more than 2 million.

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

The plan follows talks held in Jeddah from September 7 to 10 between a Syrian civil aviation delegation led 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 the construction of a new international facility. Earlier project information indicates that the new airport will be developed in stages, with an initial annual capacity of around 6 million passengers, eventually increasing to 12 million.

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

Deir Ezzor and Qamishli join the aviation recovery

The expansion is no longer limited to Damascus and Aleppo.

Deir Ezzor International Airport returned to service on August 5 following rehabilitation work and years of suspension. Syrian Airlines resumed flights from Damascus, while Jazeera Airways launched regular direct services between Kuwait and Deir Ezzor 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 airline to offer scheduled services to the airport.

Hosari said three additional regional destinations were being prepared, with specialised 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, with rehabilitation work entering 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.

New airlines and aviation projects emerge

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

During a visit to Riyadh on September 7, Hosari met Flynas CEO Bandar Almohanna to review progress on the agreement to establish “flynas Syria” and discuss further cooperation between Syria and Saudi Arabia in civil aviation.

The meeting followed earlier talks between Hosari and Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation President Abdulaziz al-Duailej on increasing air traffic and strengthening aviation coordination between the two countries.

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

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

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

Growing connectivity brings wider economic benefits

Beyond infrastructure and airline operations, the restoration of air routes is helping facilitate family reunification after years of separation while reducing reliance on costly indirect flights and transit connections for Syrians living in Europe and the Gulf.

The expanded connectivity is also strengthening links between the Syrian diaspora and their homeland and facilitating the return of skilled professionals.

From an economic perspective, the growing network could support trade, investment, and tourism while strengthening Damascus and Aleppo as regional economic centers. Plans for Aleppo International Airport also include expanding passenger and cargo traffic and supporting industrial and commercial activity in northern Syria.

The resumption of flights has also been accompanied by closer aviation cooperation with Arab and European countries, including the air transport agreement with Germany and increased 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 significant transformation.

The country is now connected by air with Türkiye, Germany, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the Netherlands, Austria, Greece, and Romania.

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

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