International flights resume from Syria's Damascus airport

International flights resumed at Syria’s main airport in Damascus on Tuesday for the first time since rebels toppled former president Bashar Al Assad last month.

A Syrian Air flight with 145 passengers left the capital for Sharjah International Airport in the UAE, marking the first international commercial flight from Damascus since December 8, and landed shortly after 3.35pm.

Flights from Doha to Damascus International Airport also resumed on Tuesday for the first time in 13 years, with video footage showing jubilant scenes on board the first flight to land as passengers brandished the Syrian flag to celebrate.

Qatar Airways stopped its services to the Syrian capital and Aleppo in 2011 because of the country's civil war. The airline said it was working with authorities to ensure that all safety, security and operational standards were met before the relaunch.

“We are pleased to resume flights to Damascus, a destination of great historical and cultural importance,” said Qatar Airways Group chief executive Badr Al Meer. “This announcement underscores our dedication to fostering connectivity and facilitating travel for our passengers.”

The resumption of flights to Syria comes after operations were suspended at the airport when Mr Al Assad's government was toppled on December 8 last year.

Qatar Airways's first flight was scheduled to leave Hamad International Airport in the capital at 10.05am local time. The return from Damascus to Doha is scheduled to take off at 3pm local time. Trips between the two cities will be re-established with three weekly flights beginning on Tuesday.

Syrian Air was also resuming flights on Tuesday, with trips between Damascus and Dubai for Dh1,030 ($280) fully booked until January 13, a member of the airline's staff told The National.

The Syrian Arab News Agency quoted Ashhad Al Salibi, chairman of the Syrian General Authority of Civil Aviation and Air Transport, as saying: “We reassure Arab and international airlines that we are in the process of fully rehabilitating both Aleppo and Damascus airports, with the assistance of our partners, to ensure they can receive flights from all over the world.”

The National approached other airlines across the region about their plans to resume flights to Syria, with most unable to offer any update as they were taking a wait-and-see approach.

“We are closely monitoring the situation in the market,” a flydubai representative said. “We continue to work closely with the relevant authorities.”

Any announcements regarding the start of operations will be shared on the company's website, the representative added.

How smooth the return of flights to Damascus is will be a crucial factor before other international airlines follow Qatar Airways' lead, said one industry expert.

“The big issue for airlines coming back to Syria is security,” said Saj Ahmad, chief analyst at StrategicAero Research. “With a new transitional and untested government in place, flight crew safety is paramount. While this will surely be a key area for the new government to build upon, the challenge after that is rebuilding critical infrastructure that will allow more flights in and out of the country.”

While Syria is awash with cultural and religious sites, and its pull for international travel has much potential, it will be years until any discernible benefits are seen at its airports and for the nation’s battered economy, he added.

“While Qatar Airways has been quick to move first, the issue is more geared towards whether the new Syrian government can entice others to follow, and if they do, what sort of services will take place – daily, weekly?” Mr Ahmad said. “It is untested waters right now, particularly as so many ground-related services also need to be established.

“However, in the short term for airports, there is zero benefit. In the longer term, Syria can only monetise air travel if the new government matches its words with deeds – make it a safe place to travel to, ensure security and ensure no sectarian division frightens off would-be travellers.

“There’s a lot of hype, hope and aspirations for Syria – one look at Libya shows you that previous Arab Spring changes haven’t really brought any success. That’s the way Syria risks going if this new government doesn’t shape up, and fast.”