Direct Flights Resume Between Berlin and Damascus
The first direct commercial flight from Berlin to Damascus International Airport arrived on Saturday, marking a significant milestone in the restoration of air connectivity between Germany and Syria. The flight, operated by the German airline Sundair, signals the end of a 14-year suspension of direct air services between the two capital cities.
The inaugural flight was met by officials, including the Chargé d’Affaires of the Syrian Embassy in Berlin, Mohammad Baraa Shukri, highlighting the diplomatic and logistical efforts required to re-establish the link. This development follows a period of protracted negotiations and a formal agreement on air transport reached earlier this summer.
The restoration of this route is part of a broader strategy by the Syrian Civil Aviation Authority to expand its network and improve connectivity between Syrian airports and international hubs. On July 16, a final agreement regarding air transport was signed at the Palace of Conferences in Damascus, providing the necessary legal framework to resume regular flights.
Building on this momentum, authorities have announced further expansions to the flight network. According to the head of the Syrian Civil Aviation Authority, Omar al-Hosari, another major air link is scheduled to commence on September 1. This new route will connect the German city of Cologne with the Syrian city of Deir ez-Zor. The service, to be operated by the German carrier LEAV Aviation, is expected to operate on a weekly basis.
The resumption of these services serves as a critical infrastructure update for the country, aimed at facilitating travel and strengthening the logistical ties between Syria and Germany. The new routes are expected to provide a consistent link for passengers and potentially support the revitalization of aviation services that had been severely impacted during the preceding decade of regional instability. These developments represent a notable shift in the operational status of Syria’s international aviation sector, marking a return to normalized transit protocols for these specific destinations.
