Syrian Airlines Plans Damascus–Amsterdam Return in July

‍DAMASCUS — Syrian Airlines (RB) says it plans to resume nonstop service between Damascus International Airport (DAM) and Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS) in the first week of July, reopening a European link after years of suspension.

Omar Hosari, head of Syria’s General Authority of Civil Aviation and Air Transport, said Syrian and Dutch authorities are completing the remaining technical, legal, and regulatory procedures required to launch the route.

The announcement should be treated as a planned resumption rather than a confirmed operational launch. Syrian authorities have not yet disclosed a timetable, frequency, aircraft type, fares, or ticket-sale date.

Amsterdam first in a broader plan

Hosari said Amsterdam will be the first destination in a wider international expansion plan for Syrian Airlines.

The route would reconnect Damascus with one of Europe’s largest international hubs and provide a direct option for travelers who currently rely on one-stop itineraries via cities such as Istanbul, Amman, Doha, or Ankara.

For Syrian Airlines, the Amsterdam route would be particularly significant because it would mark a return to Western European flying after more than a decade of political, regulatory, and operational isolation.

EU restrictions have eased

The proposed service follows a broader easing of European restrictions on Syria’s aviation sector.

In February 2025, the European Union suspended sanctions that had prohibited Syrian Arab Airlines from accessing EU airports. The move formed part of a wider package intended to support Syria’s economic recovery and transport links during its political transition.

That policy shift removed a major obstacle, but it did not automatically restore every route. Airlines and aviation authorities must still meet national, operational, insurance, safety, and regulatory requirements before flights can begin.

That is why Syrian authorities are emphasizing that final procedures with the Netherlands are still underway.

Germany could follow

Syria is also holding talks with Germany over restoring direct air links.

Hosari said discussions with German authorities on lifting restrictions affecting Syria–Germany flights had made positive progress, with a decision expected in the first half of July. No German destination or operating airline has been confirmed.

The parallel negotiations suggest Damascus is trying to rebuild its European aviation map gradually, beginning with markets that have large Syrian diaspora communities and strong connecting potential.

Reconnections

A return to Europe and a test of whether the carrier can rebuild international operations after years of disruption is at play here. For passengers, it could reduce reliance on indirect itineraries and improve access between Syria and the Netherlands.

We won't know until the final approvals are complete and Syrian Airlines publishes a schedule, so the route remains a stated plan rather than a confirmed commercial launch.

The announcement is a signal that Syria’s international aviation recovery is beginning to move beyond regional links. Amsterdam may become the first visible sign of a wider push to restore direct European connectivity, but the pace will depend on regulatory clearance, operational readiness, and continued political stability.