After the facade of the building was cleaned of symbols of the former regime, the view of Damascus International Airport improved, and its appearance became similar to airports, with organized flights departing and arriving from and to various countries of the world.
According to what was reported in the episode (1/8/2025) of the “Shabakat” program, the most terrifying place in the airport was the passport stamp, where Syrians were arrested and taken to the security branches.
Damascus International Airport officially resumed its work yesterday morning, Tuesday, by operating flights belonging to Syrian and Qatari airlines, after a month-long suspension following the fall of the regime of ousted President Bashar al-Assad.
Qatar Airways began its first civilian flight, landing at Damascus Airport, amid the joy of the Syrians on board.
Just as the Syrians in Damascus expressed their joy at the improvement in the image of their country’s international airport, tweeters on social networking sites shared in this joy through comments and tweets, some of which were monitored by the episode (1/8/2025) of the “Shabakat” program.
Umm Kholoud recalled the state of Damascus International Airport before the fall of the Assad regime, saying: “When I went down to the airport, I felt that it was dark and depressing, especially in the faces of the security men in their military uniforms… May God not bring back those days.”
For his part, Ali said, “The front of the airport before the fall of Assad used to arouse fear… Pictures of Assad and his father, slogans such as We Love You, and heart-wrenching stories… A budget sufficient for thousands of people was spent on his pictures.”
Abu Anas Al-Obaidi wrote: “An auspicious return, God willing. O people of Syria, unite, build and develop your country, and open a new page with tolerance and love.”
In turn, Abu Abdo Suleiman tweeted, saying: “From today on, there will be no fear at the airport… nor what did you bring for us with you, my beloved, nor dollars left and right and they pass without any damage.”
It is noteworthy that the director of Damascus International Airport, Anis Falouh, stated that the airport received 3 to 4 requests from Arab and foreign airlines to activate new airlines to Damascus, which reflects the desire to increase air traffic to the Syrian capital.
In 2012, most airlines stopped their flights to and from Damascus, against the backdrop of the Syrian regime’s suppression of the popular protests demanding change that broke out in 2011. The international airport in the capital, as well as in Aleppo, were subjected to Israeli air strikes that put them out of service several times.
