Etihad to resume flights to Damascus after 14 years absence

The Abu Dhabi–Damascus route will start on June 12, 2026. The UAE national carrier will propose 4 weekly flights aboard Airbus A320 aircraft.

Etihad last operated in Syria in August 2012, suspending service as the country’s civil war intensified. “This new route underscores our dedication to connecting travelers with the destinations that matter most,” said Etihad CEO Antonoaldo Neves. “We’re excited to reintroduce Damascus to our network, offering direct service to Abu Dhabi and easy onward connections across our global routes.”

Beside targeting a community of over 350,000 Syrians living in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) , the carrier looks at growing economic opportunities as international trade and investments are growing.

Strong competition to the UAE
Etihad will actually face strong competition from other carriers in the region. Since the change in regime in Syria, international airlines are back in the Syrian capital. Between Damascus and the UAE, 5 carriers serve already Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah.

Abu Dhabi has however the smallest number of flights in the UAE. Syrian Air and newcomer FlyCham provide for now 4 weekly frequencies. Meanwhile Sharjah has up to 6 daily flights to Damascus from Air Arabia, FlyCham and Syrian Air. There are up to 5 daily frequencies to Dubai with Emirates, FlyDubai and Syrian Air.

Outside the UAE, Qatar Airways, Royal Jordanian, Jazeera Airways (Kuwait) and Turkish Airlines resumed flights in January 2025. These carriers offer at least a daily flight to Damascus.

In total, Damascus is already connected to 17 international destinations by 13 carriers including Athens and Istanbul in Europe. Local carrier Fly Cham leads with 26.9% of departure seats, followed by Qatar Airways with 13.5% and Royal Jordanian at 9.6% – according to OAG.