Syria and Saudi Arabia Discuss Aviation Cooperation and Air Connectivity
The President of the Syrian Civil Aviation Authority, Omar Al-Hosri, has held a series of official discussions in Riyadh with the President of the Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation, Abdulaziz Al-Duailej, to explore opportunities for strengthening cooperation in the air transport sector.
The talks centered on supporting Syria’s strategic plan to modernize its civil aviation system. Al-Hosri emphasized the importance of leveraging Saudi Arabia’s advanced expertise in aviation regulation, oversight, safety, and operational standards. This partnership aims to develop the skills of Syrian national personnel and facilitate the exchange of technical and institutional knowledge. These efforts are designed to improve the operational efficiency of the Syrian Civil Aviation Authority, enabling it to manage the sector’s growth in line with international standards.
In a related context, the two sides discussed mechanisms to implement the previously signed air transport agreement, which is based on an open-skies policy. Al-Hosri stated that work is currently underway to establish a favorable operational environment for airlines in both countries. The objective is to increase seating capacity, intensify flight frequencies, and open new routes to meet market needs and the growing demand for travel between Syria and the Kingdom.
Furthermore, the Syrian civil aviation chief announced that a formal invitation has been extended to specialized Saudi teams to visit the international airports in Deir ez-Zor and Qamishli. This upcoming visit aims to provide a direct assessment of the technical readiness and current status of these facilities, as well as to discuss the operational requirements necessary to facilitate future air connectivity.
Al-Hosri explained that the Authority is working under a clear strategy to rebuild the Syrian civil aviation sector on modern, institutional foundations. This includes enhancing governance, updating legislative and regulatory frameworks, and restructuring the relationship between regulatory and operational activities to ensure independent oversight and clarity of authority. These meetings serve as a continuation of the bilateral agreement signed last August in Damascus by Al-Hosri and the Saudi Minister of Transport and Logistic Services, Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser, which laid the foundation for a new phase of bilateral cooperation in the civil aviation sector.
