Historical aviation milestone — reviewed 6 November 2026: Dan Air’s inaugural Bucharest–Damascus flight took place on 15 June 2025. This article documents that event, not present-day route availability. Travellers should verify current flights, visas and boarding documents directly before booking.
On Sunday, 15 June 2025, a scheduled passenger flight operated by Romanian carrier Dan Air arrived in Damascus from Bucharest. The flight marked a significant milestone: the return of scheduled commercial service by a European Union-based airline to the Syrian capital after approximately fourteen years of interrupted direct links.
Syria’s official news agency reported 138 passengers on the arriving aircraft, including Syrians and foreign travellers, with 125 passengers expected on the return flight. Syrian and Romanian representatives were involved in welcoming the service.
Why the Dan Air flight mattered
The flight helped reconnect Syrian families and offered a more direct route for travel between Romania and Damascus. For visitors arriving through Bucharest, a non-stop service could remove the need to connect through another Middle Eastern hub or cross into Syria overland from a neighbouring country.
It was also a symbolic moment in Syria’s wider effort to restore aviation connections following the political changes of December 2024. A first flight is a notable development, although it does not by itself guarantee future frequency or year-round service.
Original network plans changed before launch
Dan Air’s initial announcement had described up to six weekly Bucharest–Damascus flights and further connections involving European destinations such as Frankfurt, Berlin and Stockholm. However, by 5 June 2025 its timetable had been revised to four flights per week for the Bucharest–Damascus route, while other European routes were changed or withdrawn from the filed schedule.
For the original May announcement and the changes made before the first flight, see our Dan Air May 2025 route-planning archive.
How to plan a flight to Syria now
For future travel, check the operating airline’s live timetable, choose the arrival airport that fits your itinerary, and verify passport-specific entry procedures and any advance approval required before purchasing non-refundable tickets. Our Syria entry guide explains the main approaches to Damascus and Aleppo.
Sources: SANA — first Dan Air departure, 15 June 2025; SANA — arrival in Damascus and passenger figures; AeroRoutes — timetable revised before launch.