Syrian Airlines is preparing to launch direct flights to two new European destinations, Copenhagen and Vienna, bringing the national carrier’s number of direct destinations in Europe to three, alongside Amsterdam.
Omar al-Hosari, head of the Syrian General Authority of Civil Aviation, said Syrian Airlines will begin operating flights to Copenhagen on Monday, September 21, and to Vienna on Tuesday, September 22.
Al-Hosari said on X that launching the two destinations is part of a plan to develop Syrian Airlines’ network and expand direct air connections from Syria, providing more travel options, reducing reliance on transit stops, and cutting travel time and related costs, particularly for Syrians living in Europe.
According to the authority’s head, introducing any new international destination requires coordinated preparations before the first flight, including completing regulatory approvals, coordinating with aviation and airport authorities, preparing operational, technical, and commercial arrangements, meeting handling and ground service requirements, and ensuring the necessary readiness to sustain operations.
Al-Hosari said the authority continues working to add new European and regional destinations, which will be announced gradually after their regulatory and operational requirements are completed, to expand the national air transport network and strengthen direct connections between Syria and its regional and international surroundings.
In the same context, al-Hosari said the goal is to build a broader, more efficient, and sustainable national air transport network that provides better options for travelers and strengthens direct connections between Syria and its regional and international surroundings.
According to fares announced by Syrian Airlines, a flight between Damascus and Vienna costs $310 from Damascus to Vienna and $340 from Vienna to Damascus.
Flights between Damascus and Copenhagen cost $350 each way.
Return of Flights to Europe
The General Authority of Civil Aviation announced on July 2 the launch of direct, regular flights between Damascus and Amsterdam after completing final procedures with the relevant authorities.
On the same day, Damascus International Airport received the first direct Syrian Airlines flight from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol in the Netherlands, marking the first regular, direct flights between Syria and Europe in years.
Developing Aviation Infrastructure
The General Authority of Civil Aviation and Air Transport is working to improve the readiness of Syria’s airport infrastructure and expand its operational capacity as part of a plan to modernize air navigation systems at Damascus and Aleppo international airports.
As part of these efforts, the authority has begun calibrating and testing modern air navigation equipment at both airports, including landing and air navigation systems, with the aim of improving their capacity for round-the-clock operations and receiving flights at night and during low visibility and fog.
According to the authority’s head, improving the airports’ operational readiness would increase their capacity to accommodate more flights and airlines, support the opening of new destinations, and strengthen air links between Syria and regional and international airports.