Full story
Berlin to Damascus returns
The first direct flight from Berlin to Damascus in nearly 14 years departed on Saturday, with the Syrian state-run SANA news agency reporting the resumption of direct air links between the German and Syrian capitals.
“The first direct flight from Berlin to Damascus in nearly 14 years departed on Saturday”
The flight, operated by German carrier Sundair, departed from Berlin Airport for Damascus International Airport in the presence of Syria’s charge d’affaires in Berlin, Mohammed Baraa Shukri.
Omar Hosari, director general of the Civil Aviation and Air Transport Authority, said the resumption would facilitate travel for Syrians living in Germany and signal the return of European airlines to the Syrian market.
SANA also reported that Syria and Germany signed a final air transport agreement at the Conference Palace in Damascus on July 16, paving the way for the resumption of flights between the two countries.
Cologne to Deir ez-Zor
Syria’s General Authority of Civil Aviation and Air Transport said German carrier LEAV Aviation will begin direct scheduled flights between Cologne and Deir ez-Zor on September 1, operating one flight per week.
TRT World reported that Omar al-Husari, head of Syria’s General Authority of Civil Aviation and Air Transport, announced the new Cologne–Deir ez-Zor route as part of Syria’s effort to expand its international air connections.
SANA said Omar Hosari described the return of direct flights between Berlin and Damascus as “another step along this path,” and added that Syrian Airlines would announce several new European destinations in the coming days.
Sada Elbalad english reported that LEAV Aviation Chief Executive Daniel Broda said the new route between Cologne and Deir ez-Zor comes in response to growing demand for direct flights between Germany and Syria, especially from families and businesspeople.
European airlines and market
SANA said Omar Hosari told reporters that the resumption of direct air links would “facilitate travel for Syrians living in Germany” and “signaled the return of European airlines to the Syrian market.”
“facilitate travel for Syrians living in Germany and signaled the return of European airlines to the Syrian market”
The Sada Elbalad english report said the Cologne–Deir ez-Zor line would be the first time in the commercial operation history of Deir ez-Zor International Airport that a scheduled flight is operated by a European airline.
Sada Elbalad english also said that with the new route, LEAV Aviation’s Syrian network would include direct flights from Germany to Damascus, Aleppo, and Deir ez-Zor.
In parallel, Al-Jazeera Net said the authority head Omar Al-Hosary, citing SANA, described the step as reflecting “the development of air transport movement in Syria and the growing air link with Europe.”
