FlySham Airlines launched its inaugural flight from the Syrian capital, Damascus, to the United Arab Emirates.
The first FlySham flight departed from Damascus International Airport Wednesday morning, heading to the Emirati capital, Abu Dhabi, according to the official Syrian News Agency (SANA).
The airline was officially announced in May by a group of Syrian and Emirati investors.
At the time, the company’s founders stated that its launch marked “a new phase in the advancement of Syria’s civil aviation sector,” according to a report by CNBC.
They noted that the airline operates a fleet of Airbus A320 aircraft equipped with modern technologies and services, aiming to offer a high-quality travel experience for Syrian and Arab travelers. The focus, they said, is on quality, comfort, and safety in accordance with international standards.
The launch of FlySham is part of broader efforts to support joint investment initiatives between Syria and the UAE, strengthen Syria’s air transport infrastructure, and expand its global air connectivity.
FlySham becomes the first private airline to offer direct connections between Syrian cities and Gulf destinations, including Dubai, Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Riyadh, Dammam, and Doha.
Separately, on Tuesday, June 10, the first Syrian flight to Türkiye since the outbreak of war twelve years ago also took off.
According to a report by the Alekhbariya news channel, a Syrian Airlines plane departed from Damascus International Airport to Istanbul Airport for the first time in over a decade. The channel published images showing the aircraft taking off from the Syrian capital.
In related developments, the Saudi budget carrier Flyadeal announced in late May that it may resume flights to Syria in the near future.
Flyadeal CEO Stephen Greenway told Reuters in Manila, where he had just finalized a deal to lease two aircraft from a Philippine low-cost airline, that the company could begin operating flights to Syria by July. “We received the necessary approvals last week and are preparing to launch,” he said.
Many airlines withdrew from Syria during the 14-year war that devastated the country. International flights were halted for a period after the fall of the former regime in December.
However, several carriers have since resumed operations. Flights are now offered by Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, and Royal Jordanian, alongside Syrian airlines.
