Syrian Airlines Restarts Damascus-Moscow Flights After 18-Month Pause
A Syrian Airlines passenger flight arrived in Moscow's Sheremetyevo International Airport (SVO) on August 16, 2026,, marking the first flight between the Syrian and Russian capitals in more than 1.5 years and the resumption of scheduled service between the two countries. The aircraft landed at 0644 local time, with the return flight to Damascus International Airport (DAM) operating later the same day. Flights between the two capitals, suspended in December 2024 due to Syria's political situation, are expected to resume on a weekly basis, operating every Sunday. Syrian Airlines eyes new routes as it rebuilds global presence Omar Al Hosari, President of Syria's General Authority of Civil Aviation, said the resumption reflects broader efforts to rebuild Syrian Airlines' regional and international presence and reconnect the country with the world. He said the plan includes launching additional direct routes and expanding travel options for Syrian citizens as part of a wider strategy to strengthen the country's air connectivity. Al Hosari added that Syrian Airlines is expected to resume service to several more regional and international destinations in the coming period, including new European routes that will be announced gradually. The Moscow route follows a series of other recent route resumptions for the airline. A direct flight from Berlin arrived in Damascus on August 15, 2026, restoring air connectivity between the two cities after nearly 14 years. Syrian Airlines also 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. A fleet limited by years of sanctions Syrian Airlines, commonly known as Syrianair, has operated under US sanctions since the early 1980s, a restriction that has significantly limited its ability to acquire new aircraft or source spare parts for its existing fleet. According to ch-aviation, the airline's fleet includes eight Airbus A320s, two A340-300s, two Tupolev Tu-134Bs, and two Ilyushin Il-76 cargo aircraft, though six of the A320s and both A340s remain parked due to a lack of available spare parts. Before the fall of the Assad regime, Syrian Airlines operated four routes to five destinations across three countries. The country's only other mainline carrier, Cham Wings Airlines, currently operates a fleet of five A320s serving two routes to three destinations. Rebuilding connectivity Syrian aviation authorities also reported a rise in overall air traffic through the country's airspace, with 20,315 aircraft transiting Syria in July 2026, a sign of gradually returning activity in the region's skies as the country continues working to restore its broader aviation network. RELATED Syrian president plans to order eight Airbus aircraft as Macron visits country
