Etihad Airways has laid out plans to restart operations to Damascus, 14 years after the civil war in Syria made it too dangerous to fly to the country.
On September 19, 2025, Etihad announced that a new four-weekly service to Damascus, the capital of Syria, will begin in June 2026.
The UAE flag-carrier described the city as a key destination in the Middle East, with demand to travel there growing within the region.
Antonoaldo Neves, CEO at Etihad Airways, said: “This new route reflects our commitment to connecting people to the places that matter most to them. We are proud to expand our network into Damascus – one of the world’s most historic and culturally important cities – and to support the Syrian population with direct links to and from Abu Dhabi, as well as convenient onward connections across our global network.”
Flights will be operated by Etihad’s Airbus A320 aircraft, featuring eight business seats and 150 in economy.
According to Etihad, trade between the UAE and Syria during 2024 grew 23% year-on-year, reaching $680 million. The UAE is also home to more than 350,000 Syrians.
“With trade between the UAE and Syria continuing to grow strongly, and with a vibrant Syrian community contributing to the prosperity of the UAE, these new flights will further strengthen our social, cultural, and economic ties,” added Neves.
Flight EY561 will depart Abu Dhabi every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at 09:15 and arrive in Damascus at 11:30.
Flight EY562 will then leave Damascus on the same days of the week at 15:00 before arriving back in Abu Dhabi at 19:00.
Emirates, Turkish Airlines, Royal Jordanian and Qatar Airways have already restarted flights to Syria this year.
Forces opposing former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad ousted the divisive leader in December 2024, after a conflict lasting 13 years.
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