Syrian Air invites foreign carriers to return

DAMASCUS - Agence France-Presse

REUTERS Photo

The head of Syrian Air on Thursday invited foreign airlines to resume flights to Damascus, offering discounts and giving assurances that security has been restored on the airport road.
 
"I call on airlines to resume their flights and operations through Damascus International Airport, as well as Latakia airport (western Syria) and Qamishli airport (in the east)," Ghaida Abdel Latif told AFP.
 
"Companies which take the initiative to restore flights will be entitled to 25 percent rebates on ground services. Depending on the volume of operations, companies may receive additional discounts," she said.
 
"The airport road is safe and the security of passengers guaranteed," she said. "The airport continues to function and Syrian Air flights are running on schedule" to Arab capitals, Moscow, Tehran and Yerevan.
 
In the midst of the Syrian conflict which has cost tens of thousands of lives in the past two years, several airlines have suspended flights to Damascus because of security concerns.
 
The airport lies 27 kilometres (16 miles) southeast of the capital and runs through Eastern Ghouta on the outskirts of Damascus where military operations including air strikes have been carried out against rebel forces in past months.
 
The European Union has banned member-nation companies from operating flights to Syria and Syrian Air from landing in European territory as part of sanctions against President Bashar al-Assad's regime.