Saudi airline flynas has inaugurated direct flights between Riyadh and Damascus, becoming the first Saudi carrier to reconnect the two capitals after more than 12 years.
The move marks a significant milestone in the airline’s strategic expansion plan, launched under the slogan “Connecting the World to the Kingdom.”
The inaugural flight ceremony took place on Thursday at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, attended by Syrian chargé d’affaires in Riyadh Counselor Hussein Abdulaziz, along with representatives from flynas, Riyadh Airports Company, and various media outlets.
Passengers traveling on the first flight to Damascus were welcomed with gifts, and the aircraft was greeted with a traditional water salute upon landing at Damascus International Airport. The reception was attended by the Saudi chargé d’affaires in Syria, along with officials from the Syrian Civil Aviation Authority, Damascus Airport, and flynas.
According to a company statement, the relaunch of flights to Damascus reflects flynas’ commitment to strengthening Saudi-Syrian relations.
The airline had previously operated direct flights from Riyadh and Jeddah to several Syrian cities including Damascus, Aleppo, and Latakia.
The launch supports Saudi Arabia’s National Aviation Strategy, which aims to connect the Kingdom to 250 international destinations, handle 330 million passengers annually, and welcome 150 million tourists by 2030. It also aligns with the goals of the Pilgrim Experience Program, which facilitates easier access to the Two Holy Mosques.
Flynas currently operates 139 routes to over 70 domestic and international destinations across 30 countries, with more than 2,000 flights per week. Since its founding in 2007, the airline has served over 80 million passengers.
Under its expansion strategy, flynas aims to grow its network to 165 destinations, in line with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.
