Flights from Türkiye to Syria had been suspended following the outbreak of the civil war. With the change in power in the neighbouring country, direct flights to the Syrian capital, Damascus, have resumed.
After a 13-year hiatus, Turkish Airlines has restarted its direct flights to Syria, a country previously affected by civil war. According to Anadolu Agency, a plane carrying 349 passengers took off from Istanbul for Damascus in the morning. This marks the first flight since April 2012. Turkish Airlines suspended direct flights to the neighbouring country in 2011 due to the civil war. The airline previously announced plans to operate three weekly flights to Damascus.
Anadolu Agency reported that following the ousting of Bashar al-Assad at the beginning of December, many Syrians were travelling to their country for the first time. Footage shows passengers boarding the plane while carrying the Syrian flag on their shoulders.
Syrians Excited to Return
Fourteen-year-old Syrian girl Fatma Zehra said she came to Türkiye with her family when she was two years old and would be seeing her homeland for the first time. Passenger Ahmet Kiraz, who has been living in Türkiye since 2012, said he had built a life there. Kiraz stated, "I had lost hope that I would ever be able to return to Syria. It feels like I am in a dream."