After 13 years of hiatus, first flight from Turkey arrives at Damascus Airport

On Thursday, Turkish Airlines resumed its flights to Syria. The first passenger plane arrived today at Damascus international Airport from Istanbul after a hiatus of about 13 years.

Earlier, Anadolu Agency reported that a Turkish Airlines plane took off this morning from Istanbul Airport to Damascus, as part of the first flight number “TK 846”, with 349 passengers on board.

Deputy Foreign Minister Ahmed Dukhan stated in a press conference on the occasion of the return of Turkish Airlines to Syria: “We welcome the first flights of Turkish Airlines to Damascus after a long hiatus and thank the Turkish people and government for standing by the Syrian people and their revolution.”

Dukhan said: “Syrian-Turkish relations have deep roots and we appreciate this step as a beginning for the return of bilateral relations. He noted that the return of flights will restore hope to the Syrian people abroad to return to their country with dignity.”

In turn, Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Nuh Yilmaz affirmed: “Today we are witnessing a historic moment and I am pleased to be present on board the first flight launched by Turkish Airlines,” thanking the Syrian and Turkish authorities for completing the preparations quickly.”

He said: “We are happy with the return of air communication and the ability to embrace our Syrian brothers through these flights, and Turkish Airlines will reconnect Damascus with the whole world.”

The General Manager of Turkish Airlines, Bilal Ekshi, expressed his country’s happiness with the resumption of flights to Damascus, whose history dates back to thousands of years, stressing that this return contributes to serving Syria, its people and the peoples of the region.