Turkey-Syria Commercial Flights Resume After Thirteen-Year Hiatus

Commercial flights between Turkey and Syria resumed after a 13-year pause, commencing with Turkish Airlines. Passengers expressed joy, sadness, and hope as they returned home, reflecting recent political changes. The flights signify a new era as Turkey seeks to strengthen ties with Syria’s new authorities following a recent government collapse.

Commercial flights between Turkey and Syria resumed on Thursday after a hiatus of 13 years, beginning with a Turkish Airlines flight from Istanbul to Damascus. Turkish media depicted scenes of joy as Syrian families, adorned with their national flag, sang pro-opposition songs in celebration while preparing to board flight TK0846. The exuberance continued aboard the aircraft, where passengers sang the anthem, ‘Hold your head up high, you are a free Syrian.’ One passenger, Fuad Abdulhalid, expressed his emotional return to Syria after a long absence.

Another traveler, Nail Beyazid, shared his aspirations as he returned home for the first time since fleeing Syria. He expressed satisfaction with Syria’s recent developments, saying, “We are very happy that (Syria) was liberated, and the situation is very good,” while acknowledging significant losses of property.

The resumption of flights follows a significant political shift in Syria, marked by the expulsion of President Bashar Assad by a rebel offensive last month. This had led many Arab and Western states, which had severed ties with Assad’s regime, to re-establish diplomatic relations with Syria’s new authorities, primarily dominated by the insurgent group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham.

The first international flight since the change in governance occurred earlier this month, when a Royal Jordanian Airlines plane landed in Damascus. Turkey, a significant ally of Syria’s current leadership, aims to invest in Syria’s economy and assist in revitalizing its struggling energy sector after the recent political changes. Turkish Airlines has announced a schedule of three weekly flights between Istanbul and Damascus following a diplomatic meeting between Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The resumption of commercial flights from Turkey to Syria signifies a pivotal change in the region’s political landscape and relations, stemming from the recent ousting of President Bashar Assad. As hostilities subside, nations cut off from Syria during the civil conflict are beginning to establish new diplomatic ties with emerging authorities, especially those linked to Islamist factions like Hayat Tahrir al-Sham. This reflects broader regional efforts among Arab and Western entities to engage with Syria anew.

The return of commercial flights between Turkey and Syria marks a significant diplomatic shift after 13 years of stoppage due to the ongoing civil war. Turkish Airlines’ resumption of flights is indicative of Turkey’s intent to foster strong economic ties with Syria’s new authorities. As celebratory passengers reflect on the personal significance of their journeys, the broader implications for regional diplomacy and relations continue to unfold.

Original Source: apnews.com