A Syrian Airlines passenger flight landed at Moscow's Sheremetyevo International Airport (SVO) on August 16, 2026, marking the restoration of passenger air service between the capitals of Syria and Russia after a suspension of more than 1.5 years. The aircraft touched down at 06:44 local time, with the return service to Damascus International Airport (DAM) operating later the same day.
Scheduled passenger flights between the two capitals had been suspended since December 2024 due to the political situation in Syria. Under the updated operational plan, service on the route is expected to operate on a weekly basis every Sunday. Omar Al Hosari, President of Syria's General Authority of Civil Aviation, stated that the resumption reflects broader efforts to rebuild Syrian Airlines' regional and international network and reconnect the country globally.
Al Hosari added that aviation authorities plan to launch additional direct routes and expand travel options for Syrian citizens as part of a wider strategy to strengthen national air connectivity. Syrian Airlines is expected to resume flights to several more regional and international destinations in the coming period, including new European routes that will be announced gradually.
The resumption of the Moscow route follows several other recent network restorations for the carrier. Syrian Airlines returned to the European market with direct Damascus-Amsterdam service on July 2, 2026, and resumed weekly flights to Madinah, Saudi Arabia, on August 11, 2026. Additionally, a direct flight from Berlin arrived in Damascus on August 15, 2026, restoring air connections between the two cities after nearly 14 years.
According to data from ch-aviation, Syrian Airlines' fleet includes eight Airbus A320s, two A340-300s, two Tupolev Tu-134Bs, and two Ilyushin Il-76 cargo aircraft, though six A320s and both A340s remain parked due to a lack of spare parts. Furthermore, Syrian aviation authorities reported that 20,315 aircraft transited Syrian airspace in July 2026, indicating a gradual recovery of air traffic through the region as network restoration efforts continue.
