Emirates Resumes Flights to Damascus After 12-Year Hiatus
Emirates Airlines officially resumed flights to Damascus yesterday, reconnecting the Syrian capital to its global network after a 12-year suspension. The inaugural flight EK913 landed at Damascus International Airport at 2:30 PM with 286 passengers onboard, welcomed by a traditional water cannon salute and a high-level reception.
The UAE delegation was led by H.E. Dr. Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of Sports and Chairman of the UAE Space Agency, alongside senior Emirates executives including Adel Al Redha, Deputy President and COO, and Sheikh Majid Al Mualla, Divisional SVP International Affairs.
Also present were top officials from the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority and Dubai Civil Aviation Authority. The Syrian reception team included H.E. Hasan Ahmed Al-Shehhi, UAE Ambassador to Syria, and senior figures from the General Authority of Civil Aviation and Damascus Airport.
Speaking at the ceremony, Emirates’ SVP Commercial Operations (Centre), Adil Al Ghaith, described the return as a milestone for the airline and for Syrian travellers. “By connecting Damascus to nearly 150 global destinations, Emirates hopes to support Syria’s tourism, trade, and investment sectors,” he said.
Emirates’ services to Damascus will run three times weekly—on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Sundays—with a fourth flight added from August 2. Daily operations will begin October 26, pending government approvals. The route will be serviced by the Boeing 777-200LR, offering 38 Business Class and 264 Economy Class seats.
Alaa Sallal, Director of PR at Syria’s Civil Aviation Authority, praised the coordinated efforts that made the resumption possible, calling it “a reflection of strong UAE-Syria ties and shared economic interests.”
Passengers can enjoy Emirates’ renowned hospitality, including Syrian-influenced cuisine and a vast entertainment library with 650 Arabic content channels. The airline also highlighted its codeshare with flydubai, offering more travel flexibility for those flying in and out of Syria.
Emirates first launched operations to Damascus in 1988, and before suspending service in 2012, had flown over 2.1 million passengers to and from Syria.
The airline currently serves 14 cities across the Middle East and GCC with 194 weekly flights.
Tickets are available at emirates.com, the Emirates App, contact centres, and travel agencies.
