Emirates Restarting Service to Syria

Emirates is returning to the Syrian capital of Damascus after an absence of 13 years.

The airline introduced Monday that it’s going to launch service connecting Dubai and Damascus on July 16. The flights will run thrice per week to start out, on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Sundays, earlier than increasing on Aug. 2 to 4 occasions per week with an extra flight on Saturdays. Day by day service between Dubai and Damascus will begin Oct. 26.

Emirates mentioned the connection will profit the United Arab Emirates’ inhabitants of 350,000 Syrian nationals and strengthen commerce ties between the nation, value roughly $680 million in 2024.

“Emirates is happy to restart operations to Damascus and assist Syria’s highway forward by offering more sensible choice and connectivity, important financial hyperlinks for inward funding in addition to opening new commerce lanes and world market entry for the nation,” mentioned Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman and CEO of Emirates and its father or mother firm, the Emirates Group.

He added: “Re-establishing air journey and connectivity can also be excellent news for our clients that make up the expansive Syrian diaspora throughout the Americas, Europe, and the [Gulf Cooperation Council], who’re desirous to fly again house and reconnect to their roots, and leverage their information, abilities, experience, and assets in ongoing growth efforts.”

Emirates pulled out of Damascus in 2012 as armed rebels clashed with then-President Bashar al-Assad. Flights into and out of Syria have been drastically restricted because the nation’s civil warfare dragged on, with the combating generally nearing Damascus Worldwide Airport, although Syrian Air, the state-owned flag provider, continued to function. The airport was additionally hit by Israeli airstrikes in the course of the warfare, forcing it to quickly shut down.

Assad’s authorities collapsed in December, ceding energy to a transitional authorities backed by the rebels. Since then, some worldwide carriers have returned to Damascus, together with Qatar Airways.

Emirates mentioned it can fly the Dubai-Damascus route utilizing a 302-seat Boeing 777-200LR.

Zach Vasile is a author and editor protecting information in all elements of business aviation. He has reported for and contributed to the Manchester Journal Inquirer, the Hartford Enterprise Journal, the Charlotte Observer, and the Washington Examiner, together with his space of focus being the intersection of enterprise and authorities coverage.

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