UAE-based airline Flydubai has officially announced the resumption of its direct flights to the Syrian capital, Damascus, beginning in June, marking the end of a 12-year suspension in air travel between the two countries.

The announcement was made Thursday and comes in the wake of the UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority's decision in April to reestablish air connectivity with Syria. Flydubai will become the first airline from the UAE to restore this vital route since operations were halted more than a decade ago due to regional instability.

Ghaith Al Ghaith, CEO of Flydubai, expressed the airline’s commitment to expanding its network and reconnecting with cities of historical and cultural importance. “We are pleased to be the first UAE airline to resume flights to Syria after a suspension of more than 12 years,” he said, emphasizing the significance of Damascus as a cultural and historical center in the region.

The move is seen as part of broader diplomatic and economic normalization efforts between the UAE and Syria, with hopes of further strengthening bilateral ties and enhancing regional cooperation. (ILKHA)