First Flight in Syria Takes Off After Assad’s Fall and Years of Sanctions

By Kardo Roj

DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – For the first time since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime earlier this month, a civilian flight departed from Damascus International Airport to Aleppo, marking a significant milestone in Syria’s post-Assad transitional period.

The Airbus plane carried 43 passengers, mainly employees of international organizations and journalists, according to AFP.

Resumption of Flights

The flight on Wednesday comes after a 10-day suspension of all air traffic from Damascus International Airport following the overthrow of Assad’s government by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and allied Turkish-backed factions.

On December 8, HTS launched a coordinated attack on regime-held areas, culminating in the rapid capture of Damascus. The swift collapse of the regime led to an immediate halt in all flights at both Damascus and Aleppo airports due to security concerns.

Damascus International Airport reopened its operations on December 18, while Aleppo International Airport resumed its flights on the evening of December 17, according to Russian news agency TASS.

Symbolic Shift in Post-Assad Syria

The resumption of flights between Damascus and Aleppo signifies a step toward normalizing transportation and restoring connectivity within the country after weeks of disruption. The flight also underscores the ongoing efforts by opposition groups and local authorities to stabilize Syria’s infrastructure amid the political and military turmoil that followed Assad’s ouster.

Further flights are expected in the coming days as airports across the country gradually restore operations under new administrative structures.