Qatar marks milestone with first international flight resuming Damascus operations

A passenger plane departing from Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar, landed at Damascus International Airport in Syria, marking the first international flight to the airport in Syria’s new era.

Why it matters

This flight symbolizes a major milestone in Syria’s recovery and reintegration into regional aviation networks following years of conflict and the fall of the Baath regime.

It reflects efforts to restore normalcy and reopen Syria to international connections.

Details

• Damascus International Airport resumed operations after the fall of the Ba’ath regime and hosted its first domestic flight on Dec. 18, operated by Syrian Air, from Damascus to Aleppo.
• Earlier this morning, Damascus International Airport officially reopened for international flights.
• The first outbound international flight from Damascus was to Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Zoom in

The reopening of Damascus International Airport is seen as a step toward rebuilding Syria’s connectivity with neighboring countries and the broader international community.

This development follows a broader trend of regional actors engaging with Syria as it transitions into a new phase of governance.

Zoom out

Syria’s aviation revival is part of a larger effort to rebuild its infrastructure and normalize relations with regional powers.

While challenges remain, these flights signal progress in re-establishing Syria as an active participant in regional and global affairs.