Turkish Airlines to exclude Israeli, Iranian citizens on flights to Syria

Turkish Airlines (THY) announced it will resume flights to Damascus on January 23, marking the first flight since the Syrian conflict began.

However, per Syrian government regulations, the airline stated that Israeli and Iranian citizens would not be permitted to enter Syria.

The announcement was made on THY’s official website, accompanied by detailed travel guidelines for passengers flying to Syria.

Entry restrictions imposed by Syrian authorities

According to the Syrian Arab Republic’s directives:

• Israeli and Iranian citizens are prohibited from entering Syria.
• Passengers must present documentation proving their Syrian citizenship if applicable.
• Lebanese nationals can enter if one parent is a Syrian citizen or if they hold residency or visas from another country.
• Journalists will require special authorization to enter Syria.

Context of Turkish Airlines’ flight resumption

The decision to resume flights follows recent diplomatic normalization efforts between Türkiye and Syria. THY had ceased its operations in Syria over a decade ago due to the civil war.

Turkish Airlines General Manager Bilal Eksi recently announced that flights to the Syrian capital Damascus will resume on January 23.

In a statement on social media, Eksi shared a quote from the late Turkish poet and thinker Sezai Karakoc: “I have known Damascus since a thousand years ago. It is as close to me as my mother’s milk.”

Eksi added, “We are returning to Damascus. Starting on Thursday, January 23, we will begin flights to Damascus with three weekly departures. Best wishes.”