Saudi Arabia’s low-cost airline flyadeal is preparing to launch flights to Syria as early as July, its CEO Steven Greenway announced on Wednesday, signaling a major step in the normalization of regional air travel with the war-torn country.
“We got approvals last week to fly to Syria… We're getting ready to hopefully launch that in July,” Greenway said during a press briefing in Manila, where he also announced a separate agreement to lease two aircraft from Philippine budget airline Cebu Pacific.
The move makes flyadeal one of a growing list of foreign carriers resuming or launching services to Syria following a decade-long pause caused by the country’s 14-year civil war. Many international airlines suspended operations during the conflict, and flights were further disrupted after President Bashar al-Assad was briefly ousted by rebel forces in December 2024.
Since then, international air traffic to Syria has gradually resumed. Currently, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, Royal Jordanian, and national Syrian airlines are among those servicing the country. FlyDubai, the UAE-based carrier, has also announced plans to resume flights in June.
The reopening of air routes comes in the wake of recent geopolitical developments. Last week, U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration lifted sanctions on Syria, a move Trump said was made at the request of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Days later, European Union foreign ministers also agreed to lift economic sanctions, further easing restrictions on international engagement with Syria.
Flyadeal’s entry into the Syrian market marks a pivotal moment in regional reintegration efforts and could signal broader economic and diplomatic normalization between Syria and key Gulf states.
An Iranian tanker was hit by U.S. forces on Saturday near Iran's key oil export hub, Kharg Island, in the Gulf...
U.S. negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have arrived in Moscow for peace talks on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, two people familiar wi...
Spanish authorities are preparing a new site in Ceuta to accommodate hundreds of migrants who remain on the str...
U.S. negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will visit Russia then Ukraine over the weekend, Russian state news agency TASS has reported, citing an unnamed source. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has also said American envoys will visit the capitals of both countries.
The Iranian Health Ministry said at least 18 people were killed and 142 others injured in U.S. airstrikes carried out between 30 August and 2 September.
U.S. negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have arrived in Moscow for peace talks on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, two people familiar with the matter said. They were met by Russian Presidential Envoy Kirill Dmitriev.
U.S. efforts to squeeze Iran’s economy through an oil blockade and sanctions are becoming increasingly difficult for Tehran to withstand, according to three senior Iranian sources. Washington is escalating pressure in hopes of securing concessions in future negotiations.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for the 4th of September, covering the latest developments.
A Chinese national was pulled alive from a tunnel in Nepal on Saturday, authorities said, 10 days after a wall of ice, rock and mud tore through a Himalayan valley, killing more than 1,300 people and leaving more than 5,600 missing.
U.S. negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have arrived in Moscow for peace talks on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, two people familiar with the matter said. They were met by Russian Presidential Envoy Kirill Dmitriev.
Spanish authorities are preparing a new site in Ceuta to accommodate hundreds of migrants who remain on the streets following large-scale arrivals in July, local media reported Saturday.
At least two people were killed and dozens injured on Friday after an explosion at a military barracks in the Bolivian municipality of Viacha, about 30 km (20 miles) from La Paz, Defence Minister Ernesto Justiniano said.
The resolution, sponsored by African countries and led by Togo, passed by 164 votes to one, with six abstentions. The United States was the only country to vote against it.
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