Dubai: Emirates is set to reintroduce flights to Damascus from 16th July 2025. Operations were suspended to the Syrian capital in 2012, and the return of services follows a comprehensive evaluation in conjunction with the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA).
According to Emirates News Agency, the airline will initially start with three weekly services on Monday, Wednesday, and Sunday, with plans to expand to four weekly flights from 2nd August with an additional flight on Saturday. Emirates will expand its Damascus services to daily operations, effective 26th October.
H.H. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, expressed that the airline is pleased to restart operations to Damascus. He noted that this move would support Syria's future by providing better choice and connectivity, essential economic links for inward investment, and opening new trade lanes and global market access for the country. The re-establishment of air travel is anticipated to benefit the Syrian diaspora across the Americas, Europe, and the GCC, who are eager to reconnect with their roots and contribute to development efforts.
Emirates' services to Damascus will operate with a 302-seater Boeing 777-200LR. This will enable travelers to conveniently connect to and from the airline's network of nearly 150 destinations. The resumption of flights is aligned with the UAE's efforts to strengthen bilateral ties and support Syrian aspirations to rebuild and attract foreign investment across sectors like energy, construction, and agriculture.
Passengers flying to and from Damascus will also benefit from the airline's codeshare partnership with flydubai, which will complement Emirates' flight schedule and provide more options and convenience for travelers.
Emirates commenced services to Damascus in 1988, and before suspending operations in 2012, the airline carried over 2.1 million passengers in and out of Syria. Currently, Emirates flies to 13 cities in the Middle East/GCC, serving the region with a total of 191 weekly flights.