Syrian Air Operates First Flight To Istanbul After 12 Years

Damascus-Istanbul Route Reopens, A New Era Begins in Aviation Diplomacy

11 June 2025, 09:19 yayınlandı

1min, 38sc

Syrian Air has successfully operated its first scheduled flight to Turkey after a 12-year hiatus. Flights, which had been suspended in 2012 due to the civil war, have resumed with the approval of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The airline’s first flight on the Damascus–Istanbul route landed at Istanbul Airport on the evening of 10 June 2025.

Syrian Air Operates First Flight to Istanbul After 12 Years

Historic Flight: From Damascus to Istanbul

The Syrian Air aircraft took off from Damascus and landed at Istanbul Airport at 19:17 local time. Marking the symbolic importance of the flight, the pilot waved the Syrian flag from the cockpit upon arrival.

The welcoming ceremony at Istanbul Airport was attended by İGA Aviation Development Director Fırat Ocak, Syrian Air General Manager Samer Orabi, and numerous invited guests. A ribbon-cutting and cake ceremony were also held to highlight the significance of the flight.

Five Weekly Flights Between Damascus and Istanbul

Syrian Air will operate five weekly flights on the Damascus–Istanbul route. Flights are scheduled for Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. The route is expected to significantly ease business, medical, and family travel from Syria to Turkey.

Parallel Flights with Turkish Airlines: Growing Cooperation in Aviation

Following Turkish Airlines’ resumption of flights to Damascus, reciprocal services are seen as a sign of strengthening diplomatic and economic ties between the two countries. Syrian Air’s return to Istanbul demonstrates the acceleration of normalisation in air transport.

During the ceremony, Syrian Air General Manager Samer Orabi stated:

“Our flight to Istanbul is not merely the opening of a new route; it marks the beginning of a new era where the bonds between our peoples grow stronger.”