News on the way into Syria
What changed at airports, crossings, flights and paperwork, each with its date and source. Every item comes from the official body or the operator itself, and the site's data is updated with it.
Riyadh's King Khalid airport resumes flights from 25 October
SANA reported on 24 October that the management of King Khalid airport in Riyadh announced flights resume from Sunday 25 October, with Terminal 1 for domestic flights and Terminal 2 for international flights run by the national carriers. The airport asked travellers with confirmed bookings to check the status of their flight with the airline before going to the airport.
Source: SANA
SalamAir's Muscat–Damascus route launched in Muscat
SANA reported on 22 October that SalamAir's Muscat–Damascus route was launched at Muscat airport, ahead of flights starting in the coming days. No date for the first flight and no days of operation have been announced, so check with SalamAir before booking. Fly Cham flies between Muscat and Damascus.
Source: SANA
Related: SalamAir
Domestic Damascus–Aleppo flights from 18 November
The civil aviation authority announced on 20 October that Syrian Air will start regular direct domestic flights between Damascus and Aleppo on 18 November. The announcement gives no days or times, so check with Syrian Air before booking.
Source: General Authority of Civil Aviation
Related: Damascus airport · Aleppo airport · Syrian Air
Road works on the way to Damascus airport may cause delays
The civil aviation authority said on 17 October that rehabilitation work under way on the road to Damascus airport may cause traffic jams and delays in reaching the airport. It recommends that travellers allow for this and arrive at the airport well before their flight.
Source: General Authority of Civil Aviation
Related: Damascus airport
Direct Aleppo to Moscow flights from 18 November
The civil aviation authority announced on 15 October that Syrian Air will start regular direct flights between Aleppo and Moscow on 18 November. The announcement does not give the days or times of the flights, so check with Syrian Air before booking.
Source: General Authority of Civil Aviation
Related: Aleppo airport · Syrian Air
Flights suspended at Riyadh's King Khalid airport after the attack
SANA reported on 11 October that the Saudi authorities extended the suspension of operations at King Khalid airport in Riyadh after the attack on it on 10 October, and that the Saudi embassy in Kuwait spoke of air traffic to and from Riyadh being disrupted. According to SANA, two aviation-sector sources told AFP that flights are stopped "until further notice". Anyone with a flight between Riyadh and Syria should check with the airline before travelling.
Source: SANA
New bus line between Damascus city and Damascus airport
The civil aviation authority announced on 10 October a dedicated bus line between Damascus city and Damascus airport, with a service in the opposite direction too; the state news agency said it starts on 11 October. Buses leave the Baramke garages at 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 a.m., at 12 noon, 1, 2 and 4 p.m., at 7 and 10 p.m., and at 1 and 4 a.m. The authority is preparing a similar service at Aleppo airport and has not yet given details.
Source: General Authority of Civil Aviation
Related: Damascus airport
Etihad to fly Abu Dhabi–Damascus daily from 14 November
Etihad Airways announced on 8 October that it will operate a daily service between Abu Dhabi and Damascus from 14 November 2026, up from four weekly flights. EY561 leaves Abu Dhabi at 14:00 and arrives in Damascus at 16:30; EY562 leaves Damascus at 17:35 (local times).
Source: The airline's own website
Related: Damascus airport · Etihad
AEGEAN to fly Athens–Damascus from 2 December
Greek airline AEGEAN announced a new direct route between Athens and Damascus on 6 October. Flights start on 2 December 2026 and run up to four times a week through the winter season, on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
Source: The airline's own website
Related: Damascus airport
Syrian Air unveils its new look and announces a new booking system for early November
Syrian Air unveiled its new brand identity at Damascus airport on 5 October and said the first aircraft in the new livery has entered service. Its chief executive said a new booking system will be adopted at the start of next month, that more destinations will be announced soon, and that the aim is to reach 25 destinations before the end of the year.
Source: SANA
Related: Syrian Air
EASA extends its Syria airspace bulletin to 30 November
The EU aviation safety agency revised its conflict-zone bulletin for Syria on 1 October and extended it to 30 November 2026. It used to advise against flying in Syrian airspace at all; it now advises against flying over part of it at any height and below 26,000 feet over the rest. It is advice, not a ban: Sundair, LEAV and Dan Air keep flying to Syria, while the big European airlines stay out.
Source: EASA bulletin CZIB-2017-03R20
Expansion and paving works at the Nasib crossing
The ports authority is expanding and paving the lanes and yards at Nasib, on the border with Jordan, to ease queues for trucks and travellers. The crossing is open.
Source: General Authority for Ports and Customs
Related: Nasib
SalamAir prepares Muscat–Damascus flights, not flying yet
A SalamAir team visited Damascus airport to work through what the airline needs to start flights between Oman and Syria. No start date has been given. Fly Cham flies from Muscat on Friday mornings.
Source: General Authority of Civil Aviation
Related: SalamAir
Expansion works start at the Al-Rai crossing
The ports authority has started enlarging the yards at Al-Rai, on the border with Türkiye, to ease the flow of trucks and travellers.
Source: General Authority for Ports and Customs
Related: Al-Rai
Rebuilding work starts at Latakia airport
Work crews have started rehabilitating Latakia airport's terminal and facilities, ahead of reopening it to passengers. The civil aviation authority will announce a reopening date when the work is done; until then the airport stays closed.
Source: General Authority of Civil Aviation
Related: Latakia airport
Al-Arida crossing still closed, reopening "soon"
The Al-Arida crossing with Lebanon has been closed to travellers since 6 August while its bridge is rebuilt. On 24 September the head of the ports authority inspected the works; the authority says it will start operating soon, with no date. Cross at Joussieh or Jdeidet Yabous instead.
Source: General Authority for Ports and Customs
Related: Al-Arida
Lebanon: a 24-hour transit permit for Syrians heading home
Under new rules from Lebanese General Security dated 24 September, Syrians who arrive in Lebanon by air or sea to cross into Syria get a 24-hour transit entry permit on their passport.
Source: Lebanese General Security
Related: Jdeidet Yabous
New landing aids at Damascus and Aleppo airports
New navigation and landing systems at Damascus and Aleppo airports have been calibrated and are in service. The civil aviation authority says this readies both airports to operate around the clock, including at night.
Source: General Authority of Civil Aviation
Related: Damascus airport · Aleppo airport
New Syrian airline Fly Dar gets its operating certificate
Fly Dar is the first private Syrian airline to receive an air operator certificate from the civil aviation authority. It has not announced routes or dates yet.
Semalka crossing to open around the clock from 1 October
The ports authority said the Semalka crossing with Iraq's Kurdistan Region will work 24 hours a day, every day, for travellers and trade from 1 October 2026.
Source: SANA
Related: Semalka
Syrian Air's first flight from Vienna lands in Damascus
Syrian Air's first scheduled direct flight from Vienna landed in Damascus, the first direct service between the two cities in years.
Source: General Authority of Civil Aviation
Related: Syrian Air
Syrian Air starts flying to Copenhagen
Syrian Air's first flight from Damascus to the Danish capital, Copenhagen, took off on 21 September.
Source: General Authority of Civil Aviation
Related: Syrian Air
Bab al-Salama: 1.23 million travellers in eight months
More than 1,233,000 travellers and over 46,000 trucks crossed at Bab al-Salama, on the border with Türkiye, between January and the end of August 2026.
Source: General Authority for Ports and Customs
Related: Bab al-Salama
Tal Abyad crossing lets set groups through to Türkiye
From 12 May 2026, the Tal Abyad crossing lets through Turkish citizens, Syrians with dual nationality, and Syrians with a valid Turkish residence permit or a work permit that counts as one.
Source: General Authority for Ports and Customs
Related: Tal Abyad
Jisr Qamar crossing with Lebanon reopens
The Jisr Qamar crossing with Lebanon reopened on 4 May 2026, and passengers began crossing in both directions.
Source: General Authority for Ports and Customs
Related: Jisr Qamar
Passengers cross at Al-Yarubiyah again
Passenger traffic restarted at the Al-Yarubiyah crossing with Iraq, in Hasakah governorate, on 23 April 2026.
Source: General Authority for Ports and Customs
Related: Al-Yarubiyah
Syrians living in Türkiye can cross by land with a residence or work permit
From 1 January 2026, Syrians in Türkiye with a residence or work permit can enter and leave Syria through the Kasab, Bab al-Hawa, al-Hamam, Bab al-Salama, Al-Rai and Jarablus crossings.
Source: General Authority for Ports and Customs
Related: Kasab · Bab al-Hawa · Bab al-Salama · Al-Rai · Jarablus