Thu Jan 23 12:32:53 UTC 2025: **News Article:**
**Turkey and Syria Resume Commercial Flights After 13 Years**
Damascus, Syria – Commercial flights between Turkey and Syria resumed on Thursday for the first time in 13 years, marking a significant step in the normalization of relations between the two countries. A Turkish Airlines flight carrying a diplomatic delegation and aid from the Turkish Red Crescent landed at Damascus International Airport, greeted by emotional scenes of jubilation from Syrian families returning home.
The flight, TK0846, departed from Istanbul and carried passengers who had fled Syria during the country’s civil war. Many expressed their joy and hope for the future, despite the losses they had suffered. One passenger, Fuad Abdulhalid, who has lived in Turkey for 12 years, simply stated, “I missed Syria and am happy to fly back.” Another, Nail Beyazid, while acknowledging the loss of his property, expressed optimism about the changed situation in Syria.
This development follows the recent rebel offensive that ousted Syrian President Bashar Assad a month prior. Since then, several Arab and Western countries have re-established diplomatic ties with Syria’s new de facto government, led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). Earlier this month, Royal Jordanian Airlines became the first international carrier to land in Damascus since Assad’s fall.
Turkey, a key ally of the new Syrian authorities, plans to invest in Syria’s economy and aid its struggling energy sector. Turkish Airlines CEO Bilal Eksi announced earlier this month that flights between Istanbul and Damascus would operate three times a week, a move following a recent visit by Syria’s foreign minister to Ankara. The resumption of flights signals a major shift in regional politics and a potential new chapter in the relationship between Turkey and Syria.
First Piper 