Historical flight-network roundup — reviewed 6 November 2026: This report covers airline route launches and schedules announced or confirmed in July 2026. It is not a current list of bookable flights or guaranteed frequencies. Airline services and visa requirements can change after an inaugural flight. Before booking, use each carrier’s official reservation system and our Syria entry-route guide.
July 2026 marked an important phase in the return of international air connections to Syria. New direct routes linked Damascus and Aleppo with cities in Europe and the Gulf. This dated overview focuses on what was confirmed at the time, and links to the individual airline stories where we have more detail.
New flights to Syria in July 2026: dates and evidence
| Date in 2026 | Airline and route | Evidence at the time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 July | Dan Air: Bucharest–Aleppo | Inaugural arrival reported by SANA |
| 2 July | Syrian Airlines: Amsterdam–Damascus | Inaugural arrival reported by SANA |
| 4 July | Air Arabia: Sharjah–Aleppo | Airline-published service start |
| 7 July | Air Arabia Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi–Aleppo | Airline-published service start |
| 14 July | Jazeera Airways: Kuwait–Damascus | Airline-announced increase to four daily flights, at that time |
| 15 July | Kuwait Airways: Kuwait–Damascus | First arrival reported by SANA |
| 20 July | flydubai: Dubai–Aleppo | Inaugural flight confirmed by the airline |
The listed dates represent different types of evidence: some are confirmed first arrivals, while others are start dates published by an airline. Frequencies in this historical report describe the airline’s announcement in July and should not be relied upon for November travel.
Aleppo connections: Romania, the UAE and Kuwait
Romanian Dan Air began its Bucharest–Aleppo service on 1 July 2026, one year after introducing flights to Damascus. Air Arabia advertised a Sharjah–Aleppo start on 4 July with a daily timetable, while Air Arabia Abu Dhabi published 7 July for its new Abu Dhabi–Aleppo route, initially three times weekly.
Jazeera Airways had already launched Kuwait–Aleppo flights on 25 June 2026, before this July roundup. The airline described an initial three weekly services to Aleppo. For the confirmed inaugural flight, see our Pegasus and Jazeera June launch report.
A further milestone came on 20 July, when flydubai operated its inaugural Dubai–Aleppo flight. The company advertised a daily route at launch and Aleppo became its second destination in Syria alongside Damascus. Read our flydubai Aleppo launch article for that route’s history.
Damascus connections: Amsterdam and Kuwait
Syrian Airlines resumed direct Amsterdam–Damascus service on 2 July 2026. The airline told SANA it started with three weekly flights; this was its July launch frequency, not a verified timetable for future dates.
In Kuwait, Jazeera Airways announced that its Kuwait–Damascus route would increase to four daily departures from 14 July 2026. The following day, 15 July, Kuwait Airways operated its first direct Kuwait–Damascus flight after a long suspension. These are separate airlines, and neither historical announcement is proof of a particular current departure.
Important correction: Etihad’s daily Damascus flight date
The original July 2026 version of this article said that Etihad Airways increased Abu Dhabi–Damascus flights to daily service on 15 July. That claim must not be treated as the airline’s confirmed operating timetable. Although a July schedule filing indicated a proposed increase, Etihad’s official announcement published on 7 October 2026 states that daily service is scheduled to begin on 14 November 2026, increasing from four to seven weekly flights. As of this 6 November review, that date has not yet arrived. Please confirm the flight you intend to book with Etihad.
Routes announced in July that started later
SunExpress had initially scheduled flights from Antalya to Aleppo for 1 August 2026 and Izmir to Aleppo for 2 August. The first Antalya–Aleppo flight was subsequently reported by SANA on 1 August. These routes were not July inaugurals and should not be counted as new services already operating at the time of the original July report.
Jazeera Airways announced a separate Kuwait–Deir ez-Zor service in July, with a confirmed inaugural flight following on 8 August 2026. That date supersedes the speculative July start mentioned in earlier coverage. Our Deir ez-Zor airport reopening article covers the eastern airport’s wider return to passenger service.
Germany–Syria routes were another later development: LEAV Aviation’s Düsseldorf–Damascus inaugural flight arrived on 29 July, followed by other services in August. We keep the corrected German launch-date history separately in our Germany–Syria route timeline.
Which airport is right for your trip?
Damascus is a natural arrival point for trips focused on the capital and central or southern Syria. Aleppo can reduce overland driving for tours that begin in the north. In some itineraries it may be practical to arrive at one airport and depart from the other, but the best choice depends on confirmed flights, passport-specific entry procedures, and the exact locations you plan to visit.
For new bookings, check flight availability directly with the airline, allow a sensible margin for connections, confirm baggage rules and have your tour operator verify whether any entry approval is needed before departure. Our group tours and private tours can be adapted to the actual arrival point and flight times.
Primary sources and further reading
Official airline and airport sources: Dan Air inaugural Bucharest–Aleppo flight; Syrian Airlines Amsterdam–Damascus return; Air Arabia Sharjah–Aleppo launch announcement; Air Arabia Abu Dhabi launch announcement.
Other confirmed reports: Jazeera Airways July frequency announcement; Kuwait Airways first Damascus flight; flydubai first Aleppo flight; SunExpress first Antalya–Aleppo flight; Jazeera Airways first Deir ez-Zor flight.