A new direct flight route between Dammam, Saudi Arabia, and Damascus, Syria, has resumed, offering significant advantages to more than 2.5 million Syrian residents in the Kingdom.

The inaugural flight took off on March 19, marking the end of a 13-year suspension of commercial air travel between the two nations due to a historical rupture in relations following the onset of the Syrian civil war.

The renewed service by Syrian Air from King Fahd International Airport in Dammam facilitates family reunification and enhances transportation links between Saudi Arabia and Syria.

Passenger flights between the two countries were originally halted in 2012 after Saudi Arabia cut diplomatic ties in response to Bashar Assad’s crackdown on anti-government demonstrations.

Temporary flight services resumed in May 2022 specifically for pilgrims taking part in the annual Hajj pilgrimage.

In that month, a group of 270 Syrian travelers flew into Jeddah shortly after Saudi Arabia's diplomatic acknowledgment of the need to bridge interactions, exemplified by the appointment of Faisal bin Saud Al-Mujfel as Saudi ambassador to Syria.

Following the resumption of consular services in April 2023 and the full restoration of diplomatic relations in May 2023, commercial flights fully resumed by July 2023. This resurgence included a flight from Damascus to Riyadh carrying 170 passengers, signifying the re-establishment of regulated air travel.

Further expanding access, flights between Damascus and King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah commenced in November 2023. And in remarks from Mohammed Ayman Soussan, Syria’s new ambassador to the Kingdom, it was announced that the two nations would operate a weekly round-trip flight between their capitals.

In tandem with the revival of air connections, humanitarian efforts have been ongoing.

Following the removal of former President Bashar Assad, Saudi Arabia facilitated the delivery of aid to Syria.

These operations, led by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief), provided essential resources such as food, shelter, and medical assistance to assist the Syrian populace during ongoing hardships.

Additionally, the reopening of Aleppo International Airport has been announced, with plans for added flights to various Syrian destinations as the situation in the country stabilizes.

This follows the airport's closure in November 2022 due to an offensive by rebel forces against the Assad regime.

The reestablishment of direct flights is expected to play a crucial role in fostering connectivity and support for families divided by the prolonged conflict.