Syria is resuming flights to Copenhagen and Vienna as part of a plan to expand its direct air connections with Europe. Omer al-Hasri, head of Syria’s General Authority for Civil Aviation and Air Transport, announced that the national carrier would operate flights to Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, and Vienna, the capital of Austria.
In a statement on his X account, al-Hasri said that flights to Copenhagen would begin on Monday, September 21, while flights to Vienna would start on Tuesday, September 22.
Direct flight network in Europe expands
With the addition of these two routes, the number of Syrian airlines’ direct flight destinations in Europe will rise to three. The existing direct destination in Europe is Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands.
The first direct flight between Amsterdam Schiphol Airport and Damascus was operated on July 2, after an interruption lasting several years.
Reducing the need for connecting flights
Al-Hasri said the Copenhagen and Vienna routes were part of a plan to develop the national carrier’s network and increase direct air connections from Syria. The flights are intended to provide passengers with more options and reduce the need for connecting points.
Direct flights are expected to reduce travel times and connection-related costs, particularly for Syrians living in Europe.
Launching a new international destination requires the completion of regulatory approvals and coordination between aviation authorities and airports. The process also includes operational, technical and commercial preparations, as well as arrangements for ground handling services and the sustainable operation of flights.
New European and regional destinations in preparation
Syrian authorities are working on additional European destinations and new regional routes. Al-Hasri said these routes would be announced gradually once the necessary regulatory and operational requirements had been completed.
The plan aims to establish a broader, more efficient and sustainable national air transport network, provide passengers with more options and strengthen Syria’s direct links with its regional and international surroundings.
Decline in Syrian airspace traffic
The addition of the Copenhagen and Vienna routes is among Syria’s steps to expand international air traffic and restore direct air links with foreign capitals.
Air traffic over Syria gradually declined from 2012 because of unstable security conditions. In the following period, international classifications listed Syrian airspace among high-risk areas.
On December 8, 2024, groups in Syria entered Damascus and announced the end of Bashar al-Assad’s rule. Assad had held office from 2000 to 2024, taking over from his father, Hafez al-Assad, who ruled the country from 1971 to 2000.
