Flyadeal resumes flights to Damascus amid thaw in regional ties
The new daily service signals growing thaw in Saudi-Syrian relations amid wider regional reconciliation efforts.
By Abdullahi Yusuf
Saudi Arabia’s budget airline, flyadeal, has begun operating direct flights to Damascus, marking the first regular air link between the Kingdom and Syria in over a decade.
According to AeroTime, the low-cost carrier, a subsidiary of Saudia Group, launched three weekly flights from Jeddah to the Syrian capital on October 1, 2025, followed by four weekly flights from Riyadh starting a day later. The airline says the move aims to reconnect families and support Syria’s post-war reconstruction efforts.
A ceremonial water cannon salute greeted flyadeal’s inaugural Flight F3 741 from Jeddah at Damascus International Airport. Speaking at the launch event in Jeddah, the airline’s Chief Executive Officer, Steven Greenway, described the milestone as “a momentous occasion” for both nations.
“With over two million Syrians living and working in the Kingdom, the restoration of air links provides great relief and will support Syria’s economic redevelopment as the country embarks on rebuilding its infrastructure,” Greenway said.
The renewed connection comes amid a broader easing of regional tensions and gradual reintegration of Syria into Arab diplomatic and economic frameworks. Analysts see the route as a potential signal of warming ties between Riyadh and Damascus, following years of estrangement.
In a previous interview with AeroTime, Greenway noted that recent geopolitical developments, including renewed U.S. engagement in the Middle East, had indirectly paved the way for “normalization of relations with Syria” and the lifting of certain travel restrictions.
The airline says it hopes the new route will strengthen people-to-people connections and open opportunities for trade, tourism, and humanitarian access as Syria continues its slow recovery from years of conflict.
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