Etihad Airline Photo: Media_works / Shutterstock Etihad Airways has announced it will open a new route to Damascus, Syria, 14 years after suspending all flights there because of the civil conflicts. The route will include four weekly flights, operated by Airbus A320, starting June 12, 2026. Passengers will have the option to choose between eight business seats and 150 economy seats.
The route will represent the 28th destination announced by Etihad in the past year, as part of its impressive global expansion plan.
Chief executive officer Antonoaldo Neves commented on the new route as a reflection of their “commitment to connecting people with the places important to them.”
“We are proud to expand our destination network to Damascus, one of the world's most historic and cultural cities, providing direct and convenient connectivity between Syria and Abu Dhabi, with further connection to our global network.", Neves added.
Damascus. Photo: ShutterstockFlight schedule:
EY561: Departure from Abu Dhabi at 09:15, arrival in Damascus at 11:30 (Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat).
EY562: Departure from Damascus at 15:00, arrival in Abu Dhabi at 19:00 (Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat).
The move comes amid last year’s 23% rise in trade volume between the UAE and Syria, for a total of 2.5 billion Dirhams (USD 680 million).
Currently, the over 350,000 Syrians who reside in the UAE bring an important contribution to business, social, and cultural landscape there.
The company, which has seen a surge of over 80% in passengers since 2022 and aims to reach the 38 million mark by 2030, finished the first half of 2025 with a net profit of UD 306 million and USD 3.7 billion in revenue.
A total of 10.2 million passengers chose to fly with Etihad’s over 100 aircrafts, for an occupancy rate of 87%.