Commercial flights between Turkey and Syria have resumed after 13 years with a Turkish Airlines flight from Istanbul to Damascus

Turkey's national flag carrier resumed flights to the Syrian capital Damascus on Thursday after a break of nearly 13 years, state news agency Anadolu reported. A plane with 349 passengers took off from Istanbul International Airport for Damascus on Thursday morning in first such flight since April 2012,

Turkish Airlines has announced an intention to start direct flights from its Istanbul base to Auckland and Minneapolis later in 2025.

Turkish Airlines, Turkey's national flag carrier, has resumed flights to Syria after an 11-year suspension caused by the Syrian civil war.

The first Turkish Airlines flight in 13 years landed in the Syrian capital Damascus on Thursday, an AFP correspondent reported. "The first Turkish Airlines passenger plane landed at Damascus International Airport after a hiatus of some 13 years,

Turkey’s national flag carrier on Thursday said that it has resumed flights to the Syrian capital Damascus after a break of nearly 13 years, state news agency Anadolu reported.

Officials say that Turkish Airlines will resume its flights to Damascus, Syria, next week after a halt of more than a decade.

No country has as much to gain from a stable Syria as Turkey, and few have as much to lose if it implodes. Turkey is home to more than 3m Syrian refugees, and wants Syria to be safe enough for many to return.

After a 13-year hiatus, Turkish Airlines has resumed commercial flights between Turkey and Syria. The occasion was celebrated by Syrian passengers who expressed excitement and hope as they boarded the plane.

After Turkish Airlines began flying to Denver in June 2024, it stated that it would be adding Minneapolis, Charlotte, Philadelphia, and Orlando to its list of US destinations. In December of last year, Turkish Airlines also operated its first flight to Santiago de Chile via São Paulo, which was the carrier's longest route.

Turkish Airlines — one of the world’s biggest carriers — is eyeing New Zealand for flights, according to a report from Turkey.

By bnm Gulf bureau The first Turkish Airlines flight in 13 years landed in Damascus on January 23, carrying 345 passengers including the airline's CEO Bilal Eksi, marking a significant step in Syria's reconnection with international aviation networks.