Etihad Airways lands in Damascus, resuming flights after 12-year hiatus

Etihad Airways, the flag carrier of the United Arab Emirates, has resumed commercial flights to Damascus, landing its first aircraft in the Syrian capital on Sunday. This marks the airline's return to Syria after a 12-year suspension of operations that began in 2012 with the onset of the civil war.

The airline, based in Abu Dhabi, will operate four weekly flights between the two cities on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays. Syrian aviation officials expressed optimism about the renewed connection, seeing it as a reflection of increasing confidence in Syria's civil aviation sector and its airports' capacity to regain their role as vital hubs for air traffic.

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This reflects the growing confidence in the Syrian civil aviation sector and the capacity of its airports to recover their role as vital centers of air movement.

Officials hope these flights will bolster travel and economic exchange between the two "brotherly countries." They view this as the beginning of a new phase of collaboration, openness, and aerial communication with the world. Etihad had announced its intention to restart Damascus operations in June 2026, citing growing demand from travelers in the UAE and other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.

Most international airlines ceased flights to Syria in 2012. However, many signaled intentions to return to Damascus following the reported fall of former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. The flights will be operated using Airbus A320 aircraft.

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We aspire for these flights to contribute to strengthening travel and economic and tourist exchange between the two brotherly countries and for it to be the beginning of a new stage of collaboration and openness and air communication with the world.