International flights will resume at Syria's Damascus airport from Tuesday. The initiative is the first since President Bashar al-Assad was ousted by armed rebel fighters last month. Qatar-based media Al Jazeera reported this news.
On December 8, Assad's forces left the airport in the face of an advance by rebels in Damascus, and flight operations were suspended. However, the country's state-owned news agency SANA said on Saturday that the airport will start receiving and operating international flights from Tuesday.
Ashhad al-Salibi, head of the Syrian Civil Aviation and Transport Authority, said, “We want to assure Arab and international airlines that the rehabilitation of Damascus and Aleppo airports has begun.” These airports are now ready to receive flights from all over the world.
Al Jazeera's Hashim Ahlbara reported from Damascus that the announcement carries important political and economic implications for Syria. He said that the new administration is communicating with important regional countries. In particular, talks are underway with Qatar to rehabilitate the airport, so that it can be upgraded to international safety standards.
He added that they want to convey the message that life is back to normal in Syria. Besides, allowing millions of Syrian citizens in exile to return home and telling the international community that the new administration is capable of ensuring security in running the country.
Meanwhile, international aid planes and foreign diplomatic representatives have started arriving in Syria. Domestic flights also resumed on December 18. A flight left Damascus for Aleppo that day.
Syrian Airlines said that flights from Damascus to Dubai will start from Tuesday. Meanwhile, Qatar Airways also announced to operate flights to Damascus after almost 13 years. They said three flights a week will be operated from Tuesday.
