Royal Jordanian Airlines today, Friday, January 31, operated its first commercial flights to Syria.

The aircraft is scheduled to land at Damascus International Airport after a pause of Jordanian flights that lasted 13 years, according to what was reported by the Jordanian Al-Mamlaka channel.

Royal Jordanian will operate four flights a week to Damascus, as reported earlier by the Jordan News Agency (Petra).

The CEO of Royal Jordanian Airlines, Samer al-Majali, confirmed the company’s commitment to providing air connectivity for the Syrian market with the world, noting that Amman has long been a gateway connecting Syria with the world, allowing travelers from the United States and Europe to reach the region.

Al-Majali also spoke about plans to expand flights to daily schedules next April, and direct flights between the capitals will be operated, in addition to the daily bus services that the company has been providing for two years between Queen Alia Airport in Amman and Syria.

Last Wednesday, the CEO of the Jordanian Oil Refinery Company, Hassan al-Hayari, revealed the export of 500 tons of liquefied petroleum gas daily to Syria, for a period of ten days.

On January 23, the Jordanian Minister of Industry, Trade, and Supply, Yarub Qudah, confirmed that there are ongoing and intensive efforts to develop cooperation with Syria, and to provide what can be offered to the Syrian people away from the calculations of economic interests.

Qudah referred to work being done to prepare developmental conditions and to invest in Jordan’s position to be a hub for supporting economic cooperation and trade exchange with Syria, and to provide the necessary infrastructure services to contribute to supporting efforts to rebuild Syria.

He also discussed the importance of removing obstacles to trade movement via the Bab al-Hawa border crossing between Syria and Turkey, as it is a vital outlet for Arab exports to European markets, and vice versa, according to what was reported by the Jordanian official news agency “Petra.”

Qudah expressed his country’s commitment to developing economic and trade relations with Syria and neighboring countries, in a way that serves mutual interests and enhances regional cooperation, noting that technical task forces have been formed to expedite work in this area.

The Jordanian minister’s statements came during a dialogue session hosted by the Jordanian Strategies Forum entitled “Prospects for Trade and Economic Cooperation between Jordan and Syria: A Launch towards Common Arab Integration.”