-
UAE Suspends All Flights to and from Damascus International Airport
The United Arab Emirates has announced the suspension of all flights to and from Damascus International Airport without providing details regarding the reasons, despite having previously expressed approval to resume flights after the overthrow of the Assad regime.
In this context, Ahmed Abbas Agha, Director of Commercial Affairs and Marketing at the Syrian Air Corporation, published a circular stating that the UAE has halted operations to Damascus Airport, confirming that all tickets booked on the corporation’s flights will be exempt from penalties upon refund.
Agha clarified that travelers will be informed of any updates regarding the resumption of flights with the UAE. Local travelers confirmed that they received notifications about the cancellation of their flights with "Ajnha al-Sham" and "Syrian Airlines" to the UAE. They also received emails containing an official circular confirming the cancellations, along with promises to update them on any future developments.
One of the flights operated by the Syrian Air Corporation took off yesterday, Tuesday, to Sharjah Airport but returned to Damascus after the official announcement of the airport's reopening to international flights following the fall of the Assad regime. Two days ago, "Ajnha al-Sham" announced that it would start operating daily flights from Damascus Airport to Sharjah Airport and vice versa, confirming that it would gradually add a flight schedule for other destinations.
So far, no official clarifications have been issued by the UAE regarding the reason for this decision, and the Syrian side has not commented on the matter. It is worth noting that Syrian Airlines is responsible for transporting passengers to and from the UAE, as official Emirates Airlines has not been operating in this capacity since the previous regime's rule.
This decision comes two days after a visit by a Syrian delegation from the new Syrian administration to the UAE, which included Foreign Minister Assad al-Shaibani, Defense Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra, and Intelligence Chief Anas Khattab, on an Arab tour that began in Qatar and ended in Jordan.
The reception of the Syrian delegation by UAE Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan sparked widespread controversy, described as "inappropriate." The UAE flag was displayed at the front of the hall where the meeting was held, while Al Nahyan was wearing sneakers. Others pointed out that the UAE might be expressing frustration regarding events in Syria due to its previous close relations with the regime. Meanwhile, Emirati Twitter users mentioned that Minister Al Nahyan often hosts political figures in informal settings, indicating an attempt to show friendly relations with visitors.
