Damascus: Twelve airlines have resumed operations to and from Syria, the head of the country's civil aviation authority revealed, as officials aim to expand connections with Europe. Omar al-Hosari, head of the Syrian Civil Aviation Authority, stated that Syrian airports and airspace are witnessing a gradual return of regional and international carriers as part of efforts to restore the civil aviation sector and enhance air connectivity.

According to Anadolu Agency, the number of airlines operating to Damascus International Airport and Aleppo International Airport as of May 1 has reached twelve. This resurgence also includes an improvement in transit traffic through Syrian airspace, reflecting the improved operational performance and increasing reliance on Syrian air routes.

Flights to Damascus have been resumed by carriers such as Syrian Airlines, Turkish Airlines, flydubai, Royal Jordanian, Air Arabia, flynas, Qatar Airways, Jazeera Airways, and AJet. Aleppo has seen flights resume by airlines including Syrian Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Fly Cham, Royal Jordanian, Dan Air, and AJet.

Hosari attributed these developments to ongoing efforts to enhance operational readiness, strengthen air navigation systems, and apply recognized safety standards. These efforts are aimed at supporting the stability and expansion of air operations, with a focus on restoring flights to and from Europe.

The current focus is on working directly with international aviation safety organizations to reassess Syrian airports. This is part of the preparation for restoring vital European routes in line with the highest safety and compliance standards.

Air traffic over Syria had significantly declined starting in 2012 due to security concerns amid the civil war, with international classifications marking Syrian airspace as high-risk. In December 2024, the departure of Bashar Assad to Russia ended the Baath Party's decades of rule. A transitional administration led by President Ahmad al-Sharaa was established in January 2025.