Turkish Airlines resumes flights to Syria after 13-year hiatus
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Turkish Airlines resumed flights to Syria on Thursday after a 13-year suspension, with a flight landing in Damascus from Istanbul airport, state media reported.
The flight, operated by a wide-body aircraft under flight code TK 846, departed from Istanbul Airport, according to Turkey’s state-owned Anadolu Agency.
“A total of 349 passengers were boarded after ticket and passport controls to go to Damascus International Airport,” Anadolu said.
Senior Turkish and Syrian officials attended a welcome ceremony in Damascus.
Three flights per week are planned between Istanbul and Damascus, according to Anadolu.
Damascus International Airport reopened to international flights on January 7.
In December, the airport was left in disarray, with abandoned planes on the runway and no visible activity following the takeover of the Syrian capital by Islamist-led rebels.
Turkey’s last flight to Syria was in 2012.
On January 7, international flights resumed at Damascus International Airport, with the first flight taking off being a Syrian Airlines flight bound for Sharjah in the UAE.
The flight, operated by a wide-body aircraft under flight code TK 846, departed from Istanbul Airport, according to Turkey’s state-owned Anadolu Agency.
“A total of 349 passengers were boarded after ticket and passport controls to go to Damascus International Airport,” Anadolu said.
Senior Turkish and Syrian officials attended a welcome ceremony in Damascus.
Three flights per week are planned between Istanbul and Damascus, according to Anadolu.
Damascus International Airport reopened to international flights on January 7.
In December, the airport was left in disarray, with abandoned planes on the runway and no visible activity following the takeover of the Syrian capital by Islamist-led rebels.
Turkey’s last flight to Syria was in 2012.
On January 7, international flights resumed at Damascus International Airport, with the first flight taking off being a Syrian Airlines flight bound for Sharjah in the UAE.