Damascus International Airport has reopened for domestic flights after being closed due to the recent rebel takeover in Syria.
The transitional government led by Hayat Tahrir Al Sham faces significant challenges in rebuilding state institutions and restoring services.
The reopening is seen as a pivotal step towards stability, attracting attention from foreign governments and diplomatic entities.The newly installed Syrian government announced the reopening of the country’s airspace for overflights on December 15, 2024, following a closure due to political turmoil, with Damascus and Aleppo airports expected to reopen shortly.
The Syrian Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) lifted its nationwide airspace closure, issuing new NOTAMs for the two main airports, allowing flights only with special permits from the authority.
Middle East Airlines (MEA) became the first carrier to resume operations over Syrian airspace, coordinating with the International Civil Aviation Organization and Syrian aviation authorities while encouraging other airlines to follow suit.
While MEA has started flights, all other airlines are still avoiding Syrian airspace, and local carriers Syrianair and Cham Wings Airlines remain grounded, with some tentative plans to resume operations after December 18, 2024.
