By Feras Dalatey DAMASCUS, March 5 (Reuters) - Syria has opened a newly reactivated air corridor from the northern city of Aleppo toward the Mediterranean Sea for use by foreign airlines as well as
Syria Launches Mediterranean-Aleppo Air Corridor to Boost Regional Air Traffic
By Feras Dalatey
Reactivation of Aleppo International Airport and New Air Corridor
DAMASCUS, March 5 (Reuters) - Syria has opened a newly reactivated air corridor from the northern city of Aleppo toward the Mediterranean Sea for use by foreign airlines as well as its national carrier, the head of the country’s Civil Aviation Authority told Reuters on Thursday, as air traffic gradually resumes through Aleppo International Airport.
Purpose and Accessibility of the New Air Corridor
Civil Aviation Authority director Omar Hosari said the route is intended to provide a safe flight path for aircraft arriving at and departing from Aleppo and will be available to any airline as long as it “meets international safety standards.”
International Airline Participation
“The corridors are not dedicated exclusively to Syrian Air,” said Hosari. “Other airlines can use them to transit or operate through Syrian airspace according to the usual regulatory procedures.”
Expansion of Air Routes and Operational Updates
In a Thursday statement, the authority said it had also reopened air routes in the northern part of Syrian airspace toward Turkey after conducting operational and technical assessments and reviewing regional developments affecting aviation.
Resumption of Flights and Future Destinations
The authority said the first Syrian Air flight departed Aleppo for Istanbul on Thursday and arrived safely, marking the gradual resumption of operations at Aleppo International Airport. A flight from Aleppo to the Saudi city of Jeddah is scheduled for Friday, with authorities studying the addition of other destinations including Riyadh.
Royal Jordanian and Other Airlines' Involvement
Hosari said Royal Jordanian is expected to use the Mediterranean corridor on Friday for a flight from Amman to Aleppo as part of the phased return of air traffic.
Regional Air Traffic Context
Commercial air traffic remained largely absent across much of the Middle East, with major Gulf hubs - including Doha and Dubai, the world's busiest airport for international passengers - largely shut for a sixth straight day after the U.S.-Israeli launched air strikes on Iran, which responded with retaliatory missile and drone strikes on the entire region.
Syria's Position Amid Regional Conflict
A week into the regional conflict, Syria is emerging relatively sidelined, with Iranian presence ceased after the fall of President Bashar al-Assad in late 2024, and U.S. military bases in the country evacuated last February.
(Writing by Feras Dalatey; Editing by Diane Craft)
