The Ministry of Transport in the Syrian regime’s government announced the resumption of flights by the Syrian Airlines company between Damascus and Jeddah airports in Saudi Arabia, starting from November 7.

The official Syrian news agency (SANA) reported that the General Director of Syrian Airlines, Hatem Kabbas, stated that the operation will be at a rate of two flights per week, on Mondays and Thursdays.

Kabbas considered that operating these flights would serve the community between the two countries and invigorate the movement of transport and communication at all levels.

He called for those wishing to book to contact the offices of Syrian Airlines, noting that regular flights between the two airports have been suspended since May 8, 2016.

On May 13, the local site “Hashtag” reported from sources in the Civil Aviation Institution that efforts were being made to complete the necessary paperwork to resume flights between Syria and Saudi Arabia, after obtaining the Saudi Kingdom’s approval.

The site stated that the first flight between the two countries would take place within a week, with Syrian Airlines and Cham Wings Airlines having prepared to start operations and return flights after a 12-year hiatus.

First flight

Last July, the first flight of Syrian Airlines arrived at King Khalid Airport in Riyadh, and Riyadh Airports Company held a celebration attended by the Syrian ambassador in Riyadh, Ayman Sousan, and Saudi officials in the field of air transport.

Sousan considered that the return of regular flights between Syria and Saudi Arabia is an additional step in the ongoing development of relations between the two countries, according to what was reported by the Saudi Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper.

Saudi Arabia played a key role in restoring the regime’s seat in the Arab League and facilitated Syria’s first participation in an Arab summit since 2010, when Syria participated in the Jeddah summit on May 19, 2023.

Despite the return, which was met with hesitation from Arab parties, and attempts to take an Arab role in resolving the Syrian issue through the Jordanian Initiative, Arab parties did not show significant enthusiasm for developing relations with the regime. Saudi Arabia delayed appointing an ambassador to Damascus for about a year after relations resumed, eventually appointing Faisal bin Saud al-Mujfel as its ambassador in May.

In December 2023, the Syrian regime announced the appointment of Deputy Foreign Minister Ayman Sousan as its ambassador to Saudi Arabia.