The first civilian aircraft arrived at the airport in the city of Deir Ezzor, eastern Syria, coming from the capital Damascus, in a test flight to confirm the airport’s readiness after the fall of the Assad regime.

A reporter from Enab Baladi in Deir Ezzor reported that the passenger aircraft reached the airport today, Sunday, February 2, and was met with dozens of people who gathered to welcome it.

The aircraft carried several passengers, including airport employees and workers, as well as logistical equipment, marking the first experimental operation of the airport after the fall of Bashar al-Assad on December 8, 2024, and checking its readiness to receive flights.

The airport is civilian, but the previous Syrian regime used it for military operations. For weeks, efforts have been underway to re-activate it to welcome visitors and delegations.

Ahmed al-Hijar, the Director of Political Affairs in Deir Ezzor, told Enab Baladi that the flight was successful, and the landing too, despite the absence of any navigation or communication devices, adding that the runway was ready but needs maintenance.

He noted that the airport had suffered “significant” damage and destruction over the past years, expressing hope that the flight would be a gateway for the airport to return to operational status, with promises to work on bringing in the necessary equipment for its operation.

The arrival of a civilian plane at Deir Ezzor Airport during the first test flight after the fall of the Syrian regime – February 2, 2025 (Enab Baladi/Obadah al-Sheikh)

On January 8 of last month, the head of the Syrian Civil Aviation Authority, Ashhad Salibi, stated that the sanctions imposed on Syria are the primary and ultimate problem for the aviation sector, as they hinder the ability to purchase engines and carry out necessary maintenance.

He mentioned that Syrian Airlines owns 12 aircraft, of which only 2 are operational at the moment, and he anticipated an increase in the airline’s fleet in the upcoming phase.

The previous Syrian regime and Iranian militias had control over the airport, which has been subjected to several airstrikes from Israel.

Before the fall of the previous Syrian regime, and two days before Bashar al-Assad fled to Moscow, the regime withdrew its forces from its controlled areas in Deir Ezzor province to Homs city, including the airport, which was controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

On December 11, 2024, the Military Operations Administration announced the control over the city of Deir Ezzor and its military airport from the SDF, which is now under the control of the new Syrian administration.