Turkish Airlines Resumes Damascus, Benghazi Flights
Turkish Airlines is expanding its international network by resuming flights to Damascus, Syria’s capital, and Benghazi, Libya’s second city, from its Istanbul (IST) hub. The relaunch of these routes marks a significant step for the airline, which continues to emphasize its status as the carrier flying to the most international destinations worldwide. As of January 2025, Turkish Airlines boasts services to 352 destinations in 131 countries, underscoring its commitment to global connectivity.
Both Damascus and Benghazi were once part of Turkish Airlines’ extensive network but were discontinued due to military conflicts and political instability in the respective regions. With the improving security situation and evolving political landscapes, the airline has decided to reintroduce these routes. The Damascus route is set to begin operations on January 23, 2025, with an initial frequency of three flights per week. This move positions Turkish Airlines as the second major international carrier to operate in Damascus following the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime in December 2024. A day earlier, on January 16, 2025, Royal Jordanian announced plans to reinstate flights connecting Amman to Damascus, initially with a four-weekly frequency and a target of daily operations by April 2025.
This strategic decision comes on the heels of diplomatic engagements between Syria and Turkey. On January 15, 2025, Syria’s new foreign minister, Asaad al-Shibani, visited Ankara for talks with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, hinting at a thaw in relations. While details about the technical aspects of the Istanbul–Damascus route remain limited, the resumption of this service is expected to support both business and leisure travel, as well as aid humanitarian and economic ties between the countries.
Shortly after announcing its Damascus flights, Turkish Airlines updated its website with a notice that Syrian authorities have imposed certain entry restrictions through the new route. Specifically, the authorities have enacted a complete entry ban on Israeli and Iranian nationals. Additionally, Lebanese citizens and members of the media may face further restrictions, highlighting the sensitive nature of border and international travel policies in the region.
In tandem with reintroducing flights to Syria, Turkish Airlines has also restarted services to Benghazi. The flight operates from Istanbul to Benina International Airport near Benghazi and will initially run three times a week using Boeing 737-800 aircraft. This route marks the airline’s return to eastern Libya, an area that international carriers have long avoided due to persistent political instability. Turkish Airlines had previously suspended its Benghazi operations in 2015 when security deteriorated. Nevertheless, recent diplomatic overtures between Turkey and influential Libyan factions, including those led by Khalifa Haftar in eastern Libya, appear to have facilitated renewed confidence in the region’s viability for scheduled air travel.
The resumption of flights to Benghazi builds on Turkish Airlines’ broader strategy to offer connectivity even in politically complex regions. Notably, in April 2024, the carrier resumed flights to Mitiga International Airport in Tripoli, operating a five-weekly service from Istanbul. According to Cirium’s SRS Analyzer, aside from Turkish Airlines, only a couple of other international airlines, namely Royal Jordanian and ITA Airways, currently operate scheduled flights into Libya—serving both Tripoli and Benghazi.
This robust network expansion reinforces Turkish Airlines’ reputation as a trailblazer in international aviation. By steadily restoring services to key destinations in Syria and Libya, the airline is not only catering to revived demand but also strengthening diplomatic and economic links in a region undergoing a period of significant transformation.
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