Syrian Airlines Damascus-Moscow Flights Restored after 18-Month Suspension

Originally published on August 17, 2026 | Last updated on August 17, 2026

Syrian Airlines Damascus-Moscow Flights have been restored after an 18-month suspension, marking a major step in rebuilding Syria’s international air network. The weekly service reconnects Damascus with Moscow as Syrian Airlines works to expand international routes and strengthen global connectivity.

DAMASCUS, Syria— Syrian Airlines has resumed direct passenger flights between Damascus and Moscow, restoring a route that had been suspended for more than 18 months and providing another sign that Syria’s international aviation network is being rebuilt after the fall of President Bashar al-Assad.

The first resumed flight arrived at Damascus International Airport on Sunday, Aug. 16, after departing Moscow’s Sheremetyevo International Airport. Syrian and Russian officials marked the return of the service at the Damascus airport, where passengers arriving from Moscow were greeted by airport and aviation officials.

The route is initially scheduled to operate once a week, on Sundays, according to reports citing Syrian aviation authorities and the airline. The outbound flight from Damascus is scheduled for the early morning, with service to Moscow’s Sheremetyevo airport.

The restoration is more than a routine airline schedule change. It is part of a broader effort by Syria’s post-Assad authorities to reconnect the country with international aviation markets, restore routes that disappeared during years of war and political isolation, and rebuild Damascus International Airport as the country’s principal international gateway.

Omar Hosari, head of Syria’s General Authority for Civil Aviation and Air Transport, described the Moscow route as part of efforts to rebuild Syrian Airlines’ regional and international network. He said additional destinations, including European routes, are expected to return or be introduced in the coming period.

A route interrupted by Syria’s political upheaval

The Damascus-Moscow flight service was suspended after the collapse of Assad’s government in December 2024. Assad fled Syria and was granted asylum in Russia after rebel forces captured Damascus, ending more than five decades of rule by his family.

The political upheaval also disrupted Syria’s aviation system. Airports and air routes were affected by security concerns, while Syrian Airlines entered a period in which its fleet and international network were severely constrained.

The airline’s recovery has accelerated during 2026. Syrian state media reported in February that Syrian Airlines had increased its operational fleet from one aircraft to four as it worked to restore its network and modernize its operations.

The airline has since resumed or expanded several international connections. Direct service between Amsterdam and Damascus returned in July after years of suspension, while German carrier LEAV Aviation launched scheduled service between Düsseldorf and Damascus later that month.

A direct Berlin-Damascus service also returned this month, operated by German carrier Sundair, further expanding the number of European connections available to travelers.

Moscow remains important to Damascus

The resumption of the Moscow route carries particular significance because Russia has been one of Syria’s most important international partners for more than a decade.

During the Assad era, Moscow provided crucial military support to the Syrian government and maintained military facilities at Hmeimim and Tartus. After Assad’s ouster, the relationship entered a period of uncertainty as Syria’s new authorities reconsidered agreements with Moscow.

That relationship has recently begun to take a new form.

Russia and Syria signed a memorandum of understanding this month concerning the future of Russian military facilities in Syria. Under the arrangement, Syria is to assume control of civilian portions of the Hmeimim facility and the commercial side of the Tartus port, while some Russian military personnel will remain under a new arrangement involving joint training facilities.

The timing of the airline route’s return is therefore notable. The renewed civilian air connection comes as Damascus and Moscow are simultaneously working to redefine their broader relationship.

The flight does not, by itself, signal a return to the close political relationship that existed under Assad. But regular passenger service can provide a practical channel for trade, tourism, family travel and diplomatic contacts as the two governments establish a new relationship.

More Syrian Airlines routes are coming back

The Moscow service is one piece of a much larger aviation recovery.

Syrian Airlines resumed direct flights between Damascus and Amsterdam in July, and the airline said at the time that additional international destinations were expected to follow.

The carrier also resumed weekly flights between Damascus and Medina in Saudi Arabia in August, expanding links with one of Syria’s most important regional markets.

European connections are particularly significant because millions of Syrians live outside the country, including large communities in Germany and the Netherlands. Restoring nonstop flights can make it substantially easier for members of the Syrian diaspora to visit family and travel to Syria without connecting through another Middle Eastern country.

But the recovery remains fragile.

Syria’s aviation authorities have had to temporarily suspend or reroute flights during periods of regional tension. Damascus International Airport, for example, temporarily suspended operations in June after security concerns led authorities to close southern air corridors. Operations resumed after a new risk assessment.

That illustrates one of the central challenges facing Syria’s aviation revival: restoring routes requires not only aircraft and passengers but also predictable airspace, airport infrastructure, fuel supplies and confidence among foreign airlines and travelers.

An airport network still being rebuilt, despite Syrian Airlines Damascus-Moscow Flights Restored

Damascus is not the only Syrian airport undergoing changes.

Syrian and Russian officials have been working on procedures to transfer control of Latakia International Airport, which has been under Russian military control since 2015, with the goal of eventually restoring civilian operations.

At Damascus International Airport, meanwhile, reconstruction and modernization efforts are underway. Qatar-based Power International Holding has been involved in plans for a new terminal, while financing arrangements have been discussed to help Syrian Airlines acquire additional Airbus A320-family aircraft.

For Syrian Airlines, expanding the fleet will be essential if the carrier wants to move beyond a limited network of weekly services. Four operational aircraft provide a starting point, but a meaningful international network requires considerably more capacity.

The return of Damascus-Moscow service therefore represents both an immediate travel option and a test of Syria’s broader aviation ambitions.

For passengers, the change is straightforward: a direct flight between the Syrian and Russian capitals is once again available. For Syria’s aviation industry, however, it represents something considerably larger — another step toward restoring connections that were severed during years of conflict and political upheaval.

The success of the route, and the additional services Syrian authorities say are coming, will depend on whether the country’s improving air connectivity can be matched by sustained security, functioning infrastructure and sufficient aircraft.

For now, the arrival of a Syrian Airlines aircraft from Moscow at Damascus International Airport marks a visible milestone in that recovery.

The next question is whether it becomes the beginning of a much broader reopening of Syria’s skies.

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