Dubai: The flag carrier of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will resume flights to the Syrian capital Damascus as of next month. Emirates stated on Monday that its first flight to Damascus is scheduled for July 16.
According to Anadolu Agency, the airline plans to initially operate three flights weekly, with an increase to four weekly flights starting in August. This decision follows a "thorough assessment conducted in collaboration" with Syria's General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA). Emirates aims to further expand its operations to daily flights by October.
The chairman and chief executive of Emirates Airline, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed, expressed satisfaction with the resumption of operations to Damascus, highlighting the benefits of improved choice and connectivity, economic links for inward investment, and new trade lanes for Syria. Emirates had suspended its flights to and from Syria in 2012 amid the Syrian revolution against the Bashar al-Assad regime.
Assad, who led Syria for nearly 25 years, fled to Russia in December, marking the end of the Baath Party regime's control since 1963. Following these developments, several airlines have announced the resumption of flights to Syria.