For 13 years, the Syrian city has been considered far too high-risk a place to visit due to political unrest and the civil war, but now this major airline is offering daily flights.
Aleppo remains a historical site with huge cultural significance, home to a world of traditional Arabic poetry and strong commercial links. Now, it’s rejoined its international flight networks due to incredible political change throughout the country, specifically its relationship with the Turkish government.
Last year, when the dictator Bashar al-Assad was ousted by Syrian rebels, seeing the end of his fascist regime, the political situation in the country changed drastically. Things have seen steady progress, so much so that Turkish Airlines is now offering a daily flight, initially on sale for $299 return.
Travellers aren’t restricted to this airline when choosing to enter Syria, as another flight from Istanbul to Damascus was inaugurated earlier this year. It carried a total of 349 passengers, mostly Syrians who were finally returning to their home country after years of war.
The first flight departed from Istanbul Airport at 08:10 yesterday, August 1, and saw passengers board a Boeing 737-900 plane for a two-hour journey. According to Turkish Airlines, each seat, both economy and business class, was fully booked, the majority by those desperate to return to their home soil.
These types of flights operated by the prestigious Turkish Airlines are thought to help foster and strengthen the relationships between Turkey and Syria while strengthening tourism. Emirates reintroduced flights to Damascus International Airport in April, and Qatar Airways plans to kickstart flights to Aleppo from Doha next month.
As of recently, several countries have re-established relations with Syria politically. Russia was the first to do so when Putin spoke with Syrian leader Ahmad al-Sharaa, in the first level of contact of this kind since the fall of the former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad.
Thankfully, the country has experienced a significant decline in conflict after facing a civil war that caused a massive amount of disruption for over a decade. While violence still remains in small pockets, particularly in the north of the country, the intensity of the conflict has since diminished.
Bashar al-Assad’s government was successful in regaining control over large amounts of territory previously held by rebel and extremist groups, with support from Russia and Iran. As a result, we are now seeing the beginning of stabilisation in some areas of Syria, including cities such as Damascus and Aleppo, as both economic and social activities have resumed.
Aleppo Governor Azzam al-Gharib announced the news on Thursday, July 17, saying: “The gateway to northern Syria is opening again to the world, and Aleppo is once again welcoming its people and fans from everywhere.”
Back in June, Aleppo International Airport saw plans for investments from the Syrian Civil Aviation Authority, which offered a series of upgrades for numerous services and facilities. Its statement emphasised the importance of careful review of the technical, financial, and legal requirements for each individual project.