dpa
Damascus
Syria’s main airport in Damascus resumed full operations on Tuesday after they were halted following the overthrow of long-time president Bashar al-Assad.
Airport official Saad Khair Bek said two flights from Damascus International Airport departed for the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday morning.
He added that first plane landed at the airport at noon coming from Qatar. On Thursday, Qatar Airways announced it would resume flights to the Syrian capital after nearly 13 years, starting with three weekly flights from Tuesday.
“We announce we will start receiving international flights to and from Damascus International Airport” from Tuesday, state news agency SANA said on Saturday, quoting Ashhad al-Salibi, who heads the General Authority of Civil Aviation and Air Transport.
“Yesterday, the airport’s rehabilitation operations ended after it was subjected to robberies on the day the regime fell,” Khair Bek told DPA.
The looting happened on the night of December 7-8 after the airport’s guards fled; Most of the technical and engineering equipment and supplies were stolen. On December 18, the airport was opened partially.
