Syria’s General Authority of Civil Aviation and Air Transport (GACA) announced on Monday, Oct. 26, that the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) was withdrawing its 2013 advisory on the safety of civilian aircraft operating in the Damascus Flight Information Region (FIR). The UN agency notified member states of its decision on Oct. 23.
Syria’s reintegration into global aviation
Omar al-Hosari, president of Syria‘s GACA, told the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) that the move was a significant step to reintegrate Syria’s airspace into the international aviation network.
The hope is that overflight traffic will gradually increase and that more international airlines will consider resuming operations in Syria, al-Hosari said.
The announcement came over a year after ICAO and Syria’s GACA signed an agreement outlining the UN agency’s support for Syria’s reintegration. The cooperation framework includes a package of technical assistance to modernise the country’s aviation infrastructure.
Reassessing restrictions
While lifting the warning will not immediately end operational restrictions imposed by other regulators or specific countries, al-Hosari noted that it will allow them to reassess those restrictions based on updated security standards.
Syrian Airlines, the country’s flag carrier, announced on Oct. 26 that it will resume direct flights between Berlin and Damascus on Nov. 10.
The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), however, keeps a conflict-zone information bulletin on the Syrian airspace, last revised on Oct. 1 and valid until Nov. 30, 2026.
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