Turkish Airlines aircraft are seen lined up on the tarmac at Istanbul Airport in Istanbul, Türkiye, acessed on June 17, 2025. (Adobe Stock Photo)
July 28, 2025 09:56 PM GMT+03:00
Turkish Airlines announced Monday it will resume direct flights between Istanbul and Aleppo, Syria’s second-biggest city by population, starting August 1.
The national flag carrier said daily service will be offered on the Istanbul-Aleppo route. To mark the reopening, round-trip tickets will go on sale at a promotional price starting from $299.
A Turkish Airlines Airbus A321 plane takes off in front of the control tower at Istanbul Airport, Istanbul, Türkiye, Apr. 6, 2019. (AFP Photo)
Rebuilding connections
Flight operations between the two countries had been suspended in April 2012 due to the civil war. Turkish Airlines resumed flights to Syria on January 23, 2025, after a 13-year hiatus.
The inaugural flight, TK 846, carried 349 passengers and was a deeply emotional moment for many Syrians returning home for the first time in over a decade.
Ajet Airbus A321-231 aircraft takes off from Zurich Airport in Switzerland, on March 5, 2025. (Adobe Stock Photo)
Low-cost carrier AJet expands to Damascus
Türkiye’s budget airline AJet, a subsidiary of Turkish Airlines, also began regular flights to Damascus on June 16, further increasing connectivity with Syria’s key cities.
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Since the collapse of Assad’s regime in December 2024—when Syria’s longtime ruler fled to Russia—air travel between Türkiye and Syria has steadily resumed. A transitional administration led by President Ahmad al-Sharaa took office in January, accelerating efforts to normalize international ties.
July 28, 2025 09:58 PM GMT+03:00