Emirates Officially Resumes Flights to Damascus After 13-Year Hiatus
After a 13-year suspension, Emirates has resumed operations to Damascus, marking a key step in reconnecting Syria with the global aviation network.
Emirates landed once again in the Syrian capital on July 17, resuming a route suspended since March 2012. Flight EK913, operated by a Boeing 777-300ER, arrived at Damascus International Airport (DAM) at 14:30 local time with 286 passengers on board, where it was welcomed with a traditional water cannon salute.
The resumption of air services ends a 13-year pause, which began when the airline decided to suspend operations due to the escalating Syrian Civil War and associated security concerns. This move represents a significant step in the normalization of relations between the United Arab Emirates and Syria and signals a vote of confidence in the stability and security of operations at Syria's main airport.
A high-level UAE delegation was on board the inaugural flight, led by Dr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of Sports, and Emirates executives including Adel Al Redha, Deputy President and Chief Operations Officer. Upon arrival, they were greeted by Syrian officials, including Hasan Ahmed Al Shehhi, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to Syria.
Adil Al Ghaith, Emirates’ Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations, stated that by connecting Syria to nearly 150 destinations, the airline aims to facilitate tourism, trade, and investment, and support the country's recovery. He highlighted the historic ties shared by the UAE and Syria and thanked the authorities on both sides for their cooperation in resuming services.
Why had Emirates suspended its flights to Damascus?
Emirates, along with other international airlines, suspended its operations to Damascus in March 2012 due to the growing instability and security risks arising from the start of the Syrian Civil War.
For his part, Alaa Sallal, Director of Public Relations at Syria’s General Authority of Civil Aviation, added that through high-level coordination and a shared vision, teams from Syria and the UAE met all requirements to resume air operations, reflecting the strength of bilateral ties and economic cooperation.
Initially, Emirates will operate three weekly flights to Damascus on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Sundays. The airline plans to increase to four weekly services from August 2, eventually reaching daily frequency from October 26. Customers will also benefit from Emirates' codeshare agreement with flydubai for added connectivity.
Emirates first launched services to Damascus in 1988 and, prior to the suspension, had transported over 2.1 million passengers on the route.
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