Dan Air Opens EU-Syria Corridor With Four New Routes

Romanian carrier Dan Air is set to become the first European Union-based airline to offer service to Syria following the ousting of longtime President Bashar al-Assad in December.

The Bucharest-headquartered airline, which began scheduled operations under its own brand in June 2023, plans to launch four routes to Damascus from destinations in Germany, Romania and Sweden.

Dan Air will become the fourth international carrier currently serving Syria, joining Qatar Airways, Royal Jordanian and Turkish Airlines.

According to the airline’s booking system, flights from Bucharest Henri Coandă International Airport to Damascus International Airport will begin on June 15, operating six times per week with Airbus A320 aircraft.

Additional routes from Stockholm Arlanda Airport, Frankfurt Airport and Berlin Brandenburg Airport are set to launch on June 15, 16 and 17, respectively, each operating twice a week.

“Aviation should connect, not isolate,” Dan Air CEO Matt Ian David says. “Syria has a real need for connectivity, and we chose to respond with professionalism and responsibility. We’re proud to operate these routes under strict international safety and security standards.”

Qatar Airways, Royal Jordanian and Turkish Airlines each resumed flights to Syria in January. Qatar Airways currently operates 10X-weekly flights from Doha to Damascus, while Turkish Airlines serves the Syrian capital daily. Royal Jordanian offers 11X-weekly flights from Amman’s Queen Alia International Airport to Damascus and on May 6 resumed a route to Aleppo, flying three times per week.

Syria’s return to the international air transport map follows more than a decade of civil war, which began in 2011 as part of the broader Arab Spring uprisings. Assad’s government, long accused of human rights abuses and repression, was largely isolated on the world stage for years, with most international airlines suspending operations to Syria.

His removal from power in late 2024, following renewed international pressure and a negotiated political settlement, has prompted cautious steps toward reintegration, including the reopening of some diplomatic ties and the gradual resumption of air service by regional carriers.

To support this, ICAO in March signed a Management Service Agreement with Syria’s General Authority for Civil Aviation aimed at rebuilding the country’s aviation sector to meet global safety and regulatory standards.