Damascus airport resumed international flights on Tuesday for the first time since 2005, including a direct flight from Qatar. The event was met with excitement and pride among Syrian passengers, who welcomed the opportunity to travel freely through the airport without feeling under surveillance or being subjected to bribes.
Bashar al-Hussein, a passenger from Daraa, Syria, traveled to Dubai and then Doha to be on the historic flight. He hailed the reopening as a new experience, free from the previous regime’s security state. “From the airport to the last door, you’d end up paying about $200,” he said.
The airport’s return was also seen as a sign of change under the new government, which has implemented new security measures aligned with international standards. SyrianAir pilot Ali Reda praised these changes, saying they had fixed the bullet holes in the air traffic control tower and restored normal operations.
Passengers expressed relief at avoiding long car journeys to Beirut airport and dealing with Lebanese border guards. “It’s so much better to travel through Damascus airport than dealing with the Lebanese border guards,” said Basma, a passenger on her first flight to Doha.
Staff from airlines still under US Treasury sanctions expressed optimism about new flight routes opening up, including direct flights to Europe. The lifting of sanctions could allow SyrianAir to restore its fleet and resume long-lost connections in Europe.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/07/party-time-at-damascus-airport-as-international-flights-resume