After years of closure, Syria’s international airport has officially reopened, bringing both hope and hesitation among Syrian expats. While some are excited to return home after years of displacement, others remain uncertain, wary of what lies ahead in a nation still healing from the aftermath of conflict.
Security forces dressed in all-black suits or camouflage gear gathered around the airport entrance, while individuals loyal to the new government, headed by the Islamist group HTS, manned the immigration checkpoints and airport security.
The fall of Assad has reignited a sense of hope for many Syrians, who now see a potential path home. Previously, the only option was to fly to Jordan and then take a shuttle bus into Syria. But with Damascus International Airport now operational, many are thrilled by the possibility of booking direct flights back home.
Ghassan Aboud, a 51-year-old Syrian expat who has spent 21 years away from his homeland, expressed his excitement of returning home. “Just the thought that we could book a flight home gives me goosebumps,” Ghassan’s son, Ahmed, reportedly said.
The first direct flight from Doha to Syria in 13 years has brought renewed hope to many Syrians.
“It’s so much better to travel through Damascus airport than dealing with the Lebanese border guards. They would always humiliate us when we crossed,” a woman, identified by her first name Basma, told The Guardian. “Syrians in general are happy to have Damascus airport back.”
Following the airport’s reopening, a Syrian Arab Airlines flight took off from Damascus on Tuesday, bound for Sharjah with 145 Syrian passengers on board, according to the Syrian state news agency.
Many of the ground staff, airline workers, and cabin crew for Syria’s Cham Wings and SyrianAir have returned to work, though at least one worker mentioned they had not yet been paid.
Staff from both these airlines, still under US Treasury sanctions for transporting mercenaries, weapons, and other forms of trafficking under Assad, expressed optimism that new flight routes could soon open. The airlines currently operate regular flights to the Emirates, with Cham Wings staff stating that they are resuming flights to Baghdad, Erbil, and Kuwait. Turkish and other international airlines are also expected to restart direct flights to Damascus.
