Photo Credit: SANA
Dubai, UAE — August 2026 — Syria’s General Authority of Civil Aviation and Air Transport announced Wednesday that Deir ez-Zor International Airport has reopened following the completion of maintenance and rehabilitation work, resuming both domestic and international flights after a shutdown of roughly 14 years.
According to Syria’s state news agency SANA, the airport received its first domestic flight from Syrian Air, arriving from Damascus International Airport, marking the start of regular service between the two cities.
It also welcomed its first international flight, a Syrian Air service from Kuwait, signaling the resumption of international routes to and from the airport.
The aviation authority said the launch of both routes is part of a broader effort to expand its network of destinations, revive domestic air travel, ease passenger movement, support economic and investment activity, and strengthen connections between Syrian provinces and other countries.
Symbol of transformation
President Ahmed al-Sharaa said the reopening of the airport reflects a shift for a site once used to launch bombing raids on towns and cities, now turned into a gateway linking the province to the rest of Syria and the outside world.
He announced an integrated development plan for the eastern region that includes rebuilding infrastructure, healthcare, roads and bridges, and establishing an industrial city to create jobs and boost development.
Al-Sharaa noted the government is implementing a development plan for the eastern region — covering Deir ez-Zor, Hasakah and Raqqa — as part of a nationwide plan for all of Syria, adding that the area’s significant contributions warrant a gradual, tailored approach to its development.
Ceremony attended by senior officials
The opening ceremony was attended by a ministerial delegation including Foreign and Expatriates Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani, Health Minister Musab al-Ali, Communications and Information Technology Minister Abdulsalam Haykal, Information Minister Khaled Zaarour, Finance Minister Mohammed Yusr Barniyah, Deir ez-Zor Governor Ziad al-Ayyash, head of the General Authority for Land and Sea Border Crossings Qutaiba Badawi, and head of the General Authority of Civil Aviation and Air Transport Omar al-Hasri.
Earlier in the day, the airport received its first two Syrian Air flights — one domestic from Damascus, the other international from Kuwait — after years of closure.
The airport’s return to service is expected to ease travel burdens for passengers, cutting down on the need to transit through other provinces or airports, saving time and effort, and giving travelers more convenient options.
