Qatar Airways Resumes Flights to Damascus After 13-Year Hiatus; Siyria’s Aviation Sector Reboots
In a significant development, Qatar Airways has announced its intention to restart regular passenger flights to Damascus, the capital of Syria, after a 13-year pause. This marks a notable step towards the rehabilitation of the country’s aviation sector, which has been severely disrupted by years of conflict.
The Qatar-based airline will initially operate three flights per week to Damascus International Airport. In a show of support, Qatari officials have also offered assistance to Syrian counterparts to help reinvigorate international airport operations.
The move comes as Syria seeks to rebuild its domestic aviation network and facilitate the delivery of international humanitarian aid by air.
Background:
The current developments follow a period of profound upheaval in the Middle East, beginning in 2011 when mass protests swept through several countries, collectively known as the "Arab Spring." In Syria, demonstrators demanded the ouster of long-serving autocratic president Bashar al-Assad, leading to a brutal crackdown by government forces and ultimately, a protracted civil war.
The Syrian conflict, which raged from 2011 to 2024, claimed over 500,000 lives and displaced more than 12 million people. In late 2024, rebels launched a major offensive, capturing Damascus and declaring the end of Assad’s regime. The former president and his family subsequently fled to Moscow, where they were granted asylum.
The resumption of international flights to Damascus signals a tentative return to normality for Syria, even as the country continues to grapple with the immense challenges posed by a decade of conflict.
