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ch-aviation reported that Deir ez-Zor Airport in eastern Syria resumed scheduled passenger services for the first time since 2012 when Syrianair operated its initial twice-weekly flight from Damascus on August 3, 2026. The publication noted that the airport had sustained significant damage during the conflict before undergoing a government-led rebuild that enabled its reopening for humanitarian operations on June 17, 2026. Syrian authorities completed essential rehabilitation phases by mid-July, with final operational procedures wrapped up ahead of the commercial launch at the beginning of August.
The Syrian Arab News Agency stated on July 15, 2026 that Deir ez-Zor International Airport had achieved full operational readiness after finishing key rehabilitation work to meet technical and safety requirements. Officials with the facility confirmed that administrative steps were progressing to support regular flights, building on the new administration’s management of the site since 2025 following the end of the previous government. The airport had remained closed to civil traffic throughout much of the 14-year civil war that concluded with a change in leadership in 2024.
According to ch-aviation, Kuwait-based Jazeera Airways plans to introduce its own twice-weekly service on the Kuwait-Deir ez-Zor route starting August 8, 2026 as part of network expansion. The General Authority for Civil Aviation and Air Transport had earlier announced that these connections would strengthen air links between the two countries. A report from rebuilding-syria.com indicated that Syrian Air disclosed the direct Kuwait flights on July 17, 2026 to expand its international operations.
Rebuilding-syria.com reported that Syrian officials have held discussions with Kuwaiti and Turkish firms regarding further development of the Deir ez-Zor Airport to enhance efficiency and capacity for growing passenger and cargo volumes. The site occupies a strategic position in eastern Syria that could support expanded connectivity, the platform noted in its July 23, 2026 coverage. Turkish companies have secured broader aviation contracts in Syria valued at $4 billion as part of post-conflict reconstruction projects, according to Turkish Minute.
Reuters data showed that Syria recorded nearly 12,000 aircraft transits in May 2026, a 375 percent increase from the previous year after the country reopened its airspace to overflights in December 2024. The turnaround followed more than a decade in which the nation’s skies had been largely avoided during the civil war, the news agency reported. Such growth in aerial activity coincides with the incremental return of airport operations across the country.
Arab News coverage indicated that the rehabilitation of facilities including Deir ez-Zor forms part of wider efforts that have drawn international investment interest since the political transition. The General Authority of Civil Aviation has coordinated these steps to restore commercial aviation links, the outlet noted in updates from early 2026. Additional direct routes, such as the recent Düsseldorf to Damascus service, reflect improving air access that authorities expect will aid economic recovery.
