For years, air travel to Syria was extremely restricted for options. Pretty much you could get some local flights to a few regional destinations on local Syrian Airlines or airlines from Iraq, but these were also difficult to book and the airport every now and then would be hit by an airstrike and would shut down for a few days. Because of this our Syria tours would either start in Beirut, Lebanon or move to Amman, Jordan as a backup.
Those days are long gone and a new era of air travel to Syria is once again upon us!
So, who is flying to Damascus now?
Two of the Middle East’s biggest carriers, Qatar Airways and Turkish Airlines are now operating flights to Damascus from Doha and Istanbul respectively. Royal Jordanian has also re-entered the market after a 13-year hiatus with direct flights to Amman, Jordan. This means that you no longer must go overland from Jordan or Lebanon to reach the beautiful city of Damascus for your Syrian journey.
Who else is flying there?
Syrian Air and Cham wings are local airlines that are currently operating routes from Damascus to Sharjah, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Cairo. Ur Airways (a local Iraqi airline) is still currently operating the route between Damascus and Baghdad. We expect more airlines to enter the market such as possible Fly Dubai and Emirates and we also expect the local carriers to expand their network, depending on how the sanctions on the country are lifted.
Does this affect our Syrian tours?
No. Now, our tours will still be running from Beirut and driving overland to Damascus. Beirut has far more airline connections and is still a much cheaper option. And also, we love Beirut, and we know anyone else that visits will also fall in love.
If I book a Syrian tour can I leave from Damascus on a flight?
Yes, If you book on tour with us, you will now have the option available to leave to your onward destination by flying directly from Damascus International Airport if you do not wish to return to Beirut.
If you would like to join one of our Syrian tours, then check out the tours we have available on our
website here
. To secure your spot or to book a private Syrian tour, send us an email to
[email protected]
.
See you in Damascus!
