Turkish Airlines resumed flights to Damascus, Syria, after a 13-year hiatus. The historical flight, identified by the flight code TK 846, took off from Istanbul on January 23 and landed at Damascus International Airport.
The flight carried 349 passengers, including Turkish Airlines CEO Bilal Ekşi. “We at Turkish Airlines are excited to start flights to Damascus again,” said Ekşi.
"I have never seen my country. This is the first time, and I am very excited. We are going from Damascus to Aleppo, where I will see my grandmother,” said 14-year-old Fatma Zehra.
Ekşi noted that these flights will bolster tourism and trade opportunities, which could serve to enhance Syria's economic recovery in the coming years.
Passenger Ali al-Sheikh, who brought his children to see Syria for the first time, 12 years after leaving due to the civil war.
Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Nuh Yılmaz hailed the event as a moment that will reconnect Syria to the broader global community.
With three flights scheduled per week, Turkish Airlines aims to maintain the reconnection. The fixed pricing policy introduced offers round-trip tickets for $299.
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.