Turkish Airlines Resumes Flights To Damascus After Syrian Regime Change

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Geopolitical factors can have significant impacts on the destinations airlines fly to. Global carriers like Turkish Airlines
have to continuously monitor a variety of factors to ensure they can safely, reliably, and legally serve a destination. When carriers pull out of markets over security or legal concerns, they often leave a major void in the destination’s air service-making it a good cause for celebration if the airline ever returns.

As a result of a regime change in Syria, Turkish Airlines has resumed service to Damascus, the capital of Syria. The carrier’s new service will assist some of the over 4 million Syrian refugees that fled to Turkey following the outbreak of the nation’s civil war in 2011. With flights operating several times per week, the two countries are once again connected with nonstop air service.

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Photo: Turkish Airlines

Turkish Airlines’ swift return to the country should not be surprising when considering Turkey’s involvement in the conflict in Syria. Turkey was the main backer behind the forces that ousted Bashar Assad in December 2024. Following the regime change, the country was the first to re-instate its embassy in Damascus, and has been vocal about lifting sanctions against the country to promote its economic development.

A 13-year hiatus comes to a close

Damascus is not necessarily a new destination for Turkish Airlines. The Istanbul-based airline served the destination until 2011, after Syria fell into a civil war. Since then, many have fled the nation and sought refuge in Turkey, making the first departure to the Syrian city one full of excited and emotional passengers seeking to return to their homeland.

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Photo: Turkish Airlines

The Daily Sabah reported that some passengers showed up to the airport full of excitement, singing songs and proudly touting the Syrian flag as they prepared to travel home. One passenger on the inaugural, Ahmet Kiraz, expressed gratitude for the unexpected opportunity to return to Syria after 12 years of working and studying in Turkey:

“We thought we would never go back. But when the opportunity came, we were so happy. I’m returning to my country on the first flight; it feels like a dream.”

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Photo: Turkish Airlines

This flight also granted some younger Syrians the chance to see their countries for the first time. One passenger explained that she left Syria when she was only two years old, and is now returning to see relatives 12 years later as a teenager:

“I’ve never seen my country. I’m so excited to see it for the first time. We will be going from Damascus to Aleppo. I’ll see my grandmother there.”

Turkish Airlines Flight #846, the first departure to Damascus, was operated by a Boeing 777 aircraft. This widebody, known for its high capacity and long range, had almost 350 passengers onboard for the initial service. According to Turkish Airlines, fares started at just $300 round trip.

Turkish’s Damascus schedule

Turkish Airlines will serve the city of Damascus thrice weekly, with service launched on January 23, 2025. Flights between the city pair will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. The outbound leg from Turkey, TK 846, will depart Istanbul International Airport at about 9:00 local time. The flight is scheduled to take two hours and arrive in Damascus at 11:00.

Turkish Airlines A330-200

Meanwhile, the return trip will be operated by the same aircraft. After a two-hour turn on the ground in Damascus, the aircraft will depart at 13:00, and arrive back in Istanbul at 15:10 as TK847. According to Flightaware, the airline is deploying a mix of Boeing 777-300 and Airbus A330-200 aircraft on the route. While both are widebody planes, the A330 has a considerably smaller capacity.

With a hub in Istanbul, Turkish’s re-launched route will play a vital role in connecting Syria with the rest of the world. With a layover in Turkey, passengers can connect to other parts of Turkish Airlines’ vast and global network. The new route reflects the changing geopolitical landscape of the Middle East, and how Turkish Airlines and other global carriers continue to reassess markets in the region. Turkish Airlines was not immediately available for comment.



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