Could the return of Qatar Airways to Damascus tempt other international airlines to put the Syrian capital back on the route map?

The national airline of Qatar has announced that it will resume weekly flights to Syria 13 years after cancelling operations. Qatar Airways will offer three weekly flights between Qatar and Damascus, Syria, from Tuesday (7 January). In 2011, flights by the carrier to and from Damascus and Aleppo were cancelled amid Syria’s civil war.

Qatar assisted in reconstructing the airport, which was damaged by years of conflict. Meanwhile, a Royal Jordanian Airlines flight also evaluated the airport's technical condition. This marks a new chapter for Syria,

‍ DALLAS — The first international commercial flight since the fall of former Syrian President Bashar Assad, a Qatar Airways (QR) Airbus A330-202, reg A7-ACM, from Doha, landed Tuesday at the Damascus International Airport (DAM).

Qatar Airways is to restart flights to Syria after an absence of more than a decade, which began in 2011 due to the breakout of a devastating civil war.

Qatar Airways announced on Thursday it will resume flights to the Syrian capital Damascus after nearly 13 years, starting with three weekly flights beginning on Tuesday.

Qatar Airways announced on Thursday it will resume flights to the Syrian capital Damascus from next week. "Qatar Airways is pleased to announce the resumption of three weekly flights to Damascus, Syria, from 7 January 2025," the national flag carrier said in a statement.