Syrian Airlines (RB) will operate its inaugural direct service between Damascus International Airport (DAM) and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) during the first week of July 2026, according to Syria’s General Authority of Civil Aviation and Air Transport, Syrian Arab News Agency reported. Omar Hosari, the head of the authority, confirmed on June 21, 2026 that final technical, legal, and regulatory procedures with Dutch authorities were being completed that same week in preparation for the launch.
The announcement marks the first planned direct flight by Syrian Airlines to Western Europe in over a decade. Hosari framed the development as “the result of sustained national efforts and technical, legal and diplomatic work,” and described Amsterdam as the first destination in a broader plan to restore Syrian Airlines’ European network. The flight follows the lifting of EU sanctions on Syrian Arab Airlines in early 2025, a pivotal development that cleared the legal path for the carrier to resume scheduled services to European airports.
Who Is Announcing the Damascus–Amsterdam Route, And What Is Known So Far
The announcement came directly from Hosari via a post on X (formerly Twitter), as reported by the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA), the official Syrian state news agency. It was subsequently confirmed by Arab News, Airways Magazine, and Daily Beirut, all citing the same official source.
As of the date of publishing, Syrian authorities have not disclosed the specific departure date within the first week of July, frequency of service, aircraft type, fares, or ticket-sale timeline. Airways Magazine noted that “the announcement should be treated as a planned resumption rather than a confirmed operational launch.”
Hosari was quoted by SANA as saying: “After years of suspension, Syrian Airlines would once again operate direct services between Damascus and Amsterdam… in light of progress on technical, legal and regulatory procedures.” He added that the move “reflects Syria’s gradual return to regional and international air transport networks.”
Why European Flights to and Syria Stopped, and Why They Are Coming Back
European commercial flights to and from Syria were largely suspended from 2011 onwards, as the country descended into a civil war that lasted 13 years. The outbreak of conflict in 2011 prompted airlines and governments across Europe to curtail ties with Damascus, leading to a near-total cessation of scheduled air services between Syria and the European Union.
Moscow was the only European destination from which Syrians could fly directly from Damascus during this period, a reflection of Russia’s support for the former Assad government. Flights between Russia and Syria were also suspended between 2012 and 2018, after which Moscow route resumed and remained the sole European exception until the political landscape shifted.
The situation changed in December 2024, when opposition forces ousted President Bashar al-Assad in a surprise military offensive. Assad was subsequently granted asylum in Moscow. A transitional government has since been in power in Syria, overseeing a period of political and economic reconstruction that has triggered a substantial shift in international diplomatic and commercial engagement with the country.
How Sanctions Lifted — The Regulatory Turning Point for Syrian Airlines
The key regulatory milestone enabling the Damascus–Amsterdam route was the progressive lifting of Western sanctions on Syrian Airlines. On February 24, 2025, the EU suspended a range of sanctions in the energy, transport, and finance sectors that had previously prohibited Syrian Arab Airlines from accessing EU airports. Syrian Airlines was simultaneously removed from the EU’s asset freeze list.
By May 29, 2025, the EU went further and lifted the majority of its remaining Syria sanctions, including those restricting Syrian Airlines from operating scheduled services to EU member states. The United Kingdom followed a parallel path, delisting Syrian Arab Airlines on March 6, 2025, and also lifting the transport restrictions that had grounded European access to Syrian carriers.
The United States issued a general license on May 23, 2025, exempting Syrian Airlines and 27 other entities from sanctions, which Syrian Airlines stated would allow it to enter “a period of rapid growth” and return Syrian air traffic to “normalcy.” US President Donald Trump then formally terminated the Syria Sanctions Program on June 30, 2025 via an executive order, with the measures taking full effect from July 1, 2025.
Despite the lifting of sanctions, the White & Case analysis of the regulatory landscape noted that all sanctions easing is reversible, and that airlines and aviation authorities must still meet national, operational, insurance, safety, and regulatory requirements independently before flights can begin.
Syrian Airlines: Fleet, History, And Recovery Efforts
Syrian Airlines (RB), formerly known as Syrian Arab Airlines, is the national carrier of Syria, headquartered in Damascus. The airline operates Damascus International Airport (DAM) as its primary hub, with Aleppo International Airport as a secondary base.
The carrier’s fleet currently consists of Airbus A320 narrow-body aircraft and Airbus A340-300 wide-body jets, alongside ATR 72-500 turboprops for shorter domestic and regional operations. According to ch-aviation, Syrian Airlines operates only two active Airbus A320-200s, with a further six units of the type and two Airbus A340-300s in long-term storage. The airline’s active fleet has been among the most constrained of any national carrier globally, the result of more than a decade of sanctions-driven isolation and an inability to source certified spare parts through official channels.
In a sign of intent, Syria signed a $250 million financing agreement in 2025 with a consortium led by Qatar’s UCC Holding, alongside US and Turkish partners, to acquire up to 10 new Airbus A320 narrow-body aircraft. The key features and specifications of the Airbus A320 operated by Syrian Airlines are as follows:
- Seating capacity: Typically 150–180 passengers in single-class or dual-class configuration
- Range: Up to 6,150 km (3,317 nmi), making it suitable for routes to Western Europe from Damascus
- Engines: Two CFM International CFM56-5B or IAE V2500 turbofan engines
- Cabin: Economy Class with adjustable headrests; meal options on all routes; one carry-on bag up to 8 kg permitted per passenger
The first three new Airbus A320 aircraft were targeted for delivery by August 2025, with the remainder to follow in phases. The deal was structured as part of a larger $4 billion initiative to redevelop Damascus International Airport, including terminal expansion, upgraded air navigation systems, and new air traffic control infrastructure.
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Why Amsterdam Schiphol Airport Matters for Syria’s Aviation Ambitions
Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) is one of Europe’s most strategically important international hubs. The airport offered nearly 40 million international seats in 2024, ranking fifth globally for international passenger capacity. It connects to more than 300 destinations worldwide and serves as a major transit point for passengers moving between Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.
The Netherlands is home to a significant Syrian diaspora community, concentrated primarily in cities such as Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and The Hague. A direct service from Damascus to Amsterdam would serve both family travel and return migration for Syrians who resettled in the Netherlands during the conflict years. The route would also provide onward connectivity across Europe for Syrian passengers, leveraging Schiphol’s established role as a continental hub.
As of June 2026, no direct flights exist between Amsterdam and Damascus. Travelers currently rely on one-stop routes via Istanbul, Amman, Doha, and other transit cities, with journey times ranging from roughly 10.5 to 22 hours depending on layover duration. A direct Syrian Airlines service could reduce journey times significantly, given the approximate flight distance between DAM and AMS.
The Broader Context of Other Carriers Returning to Damascus
The Damascus–Amsterdam announcement by Syrian Airlines sits within a broader wave of aviation recovery for Syria that began in early 2025.
Dan Air, a privately owned Romanian carrier, became the first European Union-based airline to operate a commercial flight to Syria after the civil war, launching its Bucharest Henri Coandă International Airport–Damascus service on June 15, 2025. The inaugural flight carried 138 passengers, and demand remained strong thereafter, with load factors averaging around 75%. Dan Air’s Managing Director Matt Ian David said at the time:
“Dan Air is reopening the door to trade relations with Syria. We’re proud to operate these routes under strict international safety and security standards. This service is not just about aviation, but about reconnecting Syrian families, supporting businesses, and strengthening the deep historical ties between Romania and Syria.”
Dan Air subsequently expanded to Damascus from Berlin and Frankfurt, and added Aleppo to its Syrian network in early 2026, becoming the only EU carrier operating simultaneously to both Syrian cities. Dan Air transported more than 272,000 passengers in 2025, recording growth of more than 30% compared with 2024.
The Damascus–Amsterdam flight by Syrian Airlines therefore represents a different tier of route recovery. Unlike Dan Air, which is a small independent carrier, Syrian Airlines is the country’s state-owned flag carrier. Its return to Western Europe carries a different symbolic weight — it signals that Syria itself, not just foreign niche airlines, is ready to operate scheduled international services to major EU aviation hubs.
Beyond Dan Air, broader regional connectivity at Damascus has grown substantially. As of May 2026, 16 airlines operate scheduled flights from Damascus International Airport to 43 airports across 11 countries. Carriers operating from DAM include Turkish Airlines, Qatar Airways, Royal Jordanian, Etihad Airways, Air Arabia, flydubai, Flynas, Flyadeal, Kuwait Airways, Pegasus Airlines, and AJet, among others.
Germany Could Be Next for Syria
Alongside the Amsterdam announcement, Hosari also confirmed on June 19, 2026 that Syria and Germany are in advanced talks to restore direct air links between the two countries. He said discussions had made positive progress, and that a final decision was expected in the first half of July 2026.
The Syria–Germany aviation discussions have a formal foundation. On March 30, 2026, the Syrian General Authority of Civil Aviation and Air Transport signed an air transport cooperation agreement with Germany during Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa’s official visit to the country. Germany is home to one of the largest Syrian communities in Europe, with hundreds of thousands of Syrians having arrived during the 2015–2016 refugee crisis. Direct air connectivity would serve a significant unmet demand.
As with the Amsterdam route, no German destination, operating airline, frequency, or timeline has been confirmed for the Germany route. Airways Magazine noted that the parallel negotiations suggest Damascus is trying to rebuild its European aviation map gradually, beginning with markets that have large Syrian diaspora communities and strong connecting potential.
Hosari also confirmed that Syria is in advanced talks with several additional European countries, and said “positive outcomes are expected soon” from some of those discussions, though no further specifics were provided.
Syrian Aviation is In a Wider Recovery
The Damascus–Amsterdam announcement by Syrian Airlines is the latest in a sequence of route recovery developments across the Syrian aviation market. Comparing recent moves by airlines in and around Syria highlights both the momentum and the remaining challenges.
Flynas of Saudi Arabia made history on June 5, 2025, when it became the first Saudi carrier to resume scheduled flights to Damascus. In a separate development, flynas and the Syrian General Authority of Civil Aviation signed an agreement in February 2026 to establish flynas Syria, a new low-cost carrier structured as a joint venture — 51% owned by Syria’s aviation authority and 49% by flynas. Operational activities are scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026. The parties also agreed to develop Aleppo International Airport, which will serve up to 12 million passengers annually under the plan.
Etihad Airways announced four weekly Abu Dhabi–Damascus flights starting June 12, 2026, representing another major Gulf carrier re-engaging with the Syrian market. Turkish Airlines, which had briefly suspended Middle East operations following regional disruptions in early 2026, resumed Damascus flights from May 1, 2026.
Syrian Airlines, by contrast, is operating in a different position from these airlines. It is not a well-capitalised Gulf carrier with access to modern equipment. It is a state-owned operator with a largely grounded fleet, operating in a country still navigating post-conflict reconstruction. The Damascus–Amsterdam launch will serve as a meaningful test of whether the carrier can execute sustained scheduled European operations after years of dormancy.
Remaining Uncertainties Before The Route Launches
Several factors will determine whether the planned Damascus–Amsterdam service launches successfully in the first week of July 2026.
First, the completion of bilateral regulatory procedures between Syria and the Netherlands remains a prerequisite. As Airways Magazine reported, meeting national, operational, insurance, safety, and regulatory requirements is not automatic even after sanctions are lifted; each bilateral arrangement requires independent completion.
Second, Syrian Airlines has not yet confirmed which aircraft will operate the route. The airline’s operational fleet is limited, and the Airbus A340-300 — the widebody type in Syrian Airlines’ inventory — would theoretically be more appropriate for a long-haul route to Amsterdam given its range. However, neither the A340 nor the A320 details have been publicly confirmed for this service.
Third, geopolitical context continues to introduce operational risk. As Wego Travel Blog noted, Syrian airspace was temporarily closed in early 2026 following regional tensions, and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) continued to issue safety advisories concerning Syrian airspace through April 2026. While conditions have stabilised, the operating environment remains sensitive.