Syrian Arab Airlines General Manager Sameh Arabi announced Wednesday that the airlines will open the Aleppo–Doha route within the next two weeks, followed by scheduled flights to Tripoli, Libya. He said the carrier currently operates from Aleppo to Istanbul, Kuwait, Jeddah, and Dubai.
Arabi made the remarks during a meeting with Aleppo’s tourism director and local travel-agency owners, describing it as “an initiative to strengthen cooperation and establish direct communication channels to listen to the challenges facing tourism and travel offices and work together to find suitable solutions.”
Speaking at a press conference afterward, Arabi noted that Syrian Air plans to restore its main office at Saadallah al-Jabiri Square in Aleppo and that the current fleet of four aircraft will be expanded gradually under a phased growth plan.
He affirmed the airline’s openness to all tourism companies, urging broader partnership to advance Syria’s air transport and tourism sectors — “a step that inspires optimism for a new phase of cooperation to revive travel and air services in Aleppo.”
In comments to SANA, Arabi said the initiative “starts from a national principle before a commercial one,” aiming to build trust with private-sector partners and enhance Aleppo International Airport’s operations “to match those of Damascus International, which now hosts more than five airlines.”
Director of Air Operations at Syrian Airlines Ghazwan Sabbagh said Syrian Air is “working to complete the readiness of all its stations,” noting that Aleppo Airport’s flights now reach about 80 percent of Damascus traffic, with efforts under way to increase aircraft, technical crews, and cabin staff.
Regarding European routes, Sabbagh said operations remain contingent on obtaining the Foreign Operator Certificate, adding that the airline is technically ready and awaiting final procedures.
Aleppo Tourism Director Hassan Sweid affirmed full cooperation to stimulate tourist activity, pointing to a plan to activate information centers inside Aleppo Airport and launch informational brochures highlighting the city’s cultural and historical attractions to visitors.
