Jazeera Airways to restart direct flights to Damascus
Kuwaiti low-cost airline Jazeera Airways is all set to resume direct flights to Syrian capital Damascus from Kuwait city.
This comes in response to a strong demand from the large 200,000-strong Syrian expatriate community in Kuwait - one of the largest Middle Eastern communities in the country - as well as increasing interest in re-establishing business, cultural, and familial ties between the two nations, said Jazeera in a statement.
Regional carriers across the GCC have already re-established air links with Syria, and Jazeera will also commence flying once it receives the regulatory clearance.
The Kuwaiti budget carrier had previously operated flights to Damascus, Aleppo, and Deir Ez Zoor, and is now well positioned to restore this vital connectivity.
Announcing this, Chairman Marwan Boodai said: "We are excited to start operating to Syria after a 12-year hiatus. Restoring direct flights to Damascus will provide a critical bridge for thousands of Syrians living and working in Kuwait, while also supporting broader regional efforts to re-engage with Syria."
"In line with the wider momentum across the region, we are completely set up and ready to start flying as soon as we receive the required regulatory approvals," he stated.
Several GCC nations, including Qatar, UAE and others in the Middle East region such as Jordan and Turkey have already resumed or announced their intentions to resume air connectivity with Syria, recognizing the growing need for regional integration and the normalisation of civil aviation ties, he added.
Jazeera Airways said it remains committed to upholding the highest operational and safety standards in line with international aviation protocols.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Trade Arabia
24 minutes ago
- Trade Arabia
TK Elevator snaps up key Kuwait International Airport contract
TK Elevator (TKE) has announced that it has been awarded a major package (Package 3) covering the aircraft aprons and taxiways and service buildings at the Kuwait International Airport (KWI). The scope of work includes the supply, delivery, installation, and a two-year maintenance contract of 55 passenger boarding bridges. This agreement reinforces TKE's position as a premier infrastructure partner in the Middle East, thus leveraging its long-standing relationship with KWI, said TKE in a statement. The new Terminal 2, under construction by Limak Insaat and overseen by the Kuwait Ministry of Public Works, features an iconic design by Foster + Partners, and is set to become a major hub in the Gulf region. Covering 750,000 sq m with a roof area of 315,000 sq m, it will significantly increase Kuwait International Airport's capacity to handle 25 million passengers annually, it stated. TKE said its solutions will enable seamless passenger flow and play a vital role in enhancing operational efficiency and ensuring a seamless passenger experience, thus contributing to Kuwait's growing position as a key regional air hub. TKE's 55 custom-designed PBBs, featuring a unique steel and glass design and tailored width specifications, will seamlessly accommodate all aircraft types – from Code C (for example A320 or B737) to code F (eg A380 or B 747-8), it stated. On the key contract win, Ignacio Madinah, the CEO of Airport Solutions at TK Elevator, said: "Our reputation for service and product excellence, customisation capabilities and maintenance expertise combined with our extensive experience in large-scale infrastructure projects, makes us a trusted partner." "We are proud to support Kuwait Airport in their expansion, realizing Kuwait's new airport development project's ambition to become a key hub in the Middle East," he stated. This contract highlights TKE's commitment to excellence and innovation in the airport equipment sector. It builds on a longstanding relationship with Kuwait Airport, including previous PBB installations at the Amiri Terminal, Terminal 4, and Terminal 5.
Trade Arabia
5 hours ago
- Trade Arabia
Emirates to reintroduce Damascus services from July 16
Emirates is set to reintroduce flights to Damascus from July 16 (subject to government approvals), following a comprehensive evaluation in conjunction with the UAE GCAA. Operations were suspended to the Syrian capital in 2012. The airline will initially start with three weekly services on Monday, Wednesday and Sunday, with plans to expand to four weekly flights from August 2 with an additional flight on Saturday. Emirates will expand its Damascus services to daily operations, effective October 26. Emirates' services to Damascus will operate with a 302-seater Boeing 777-200LR and is planned to depart Dubai as EK 913 at 1200hrs, arriving in Damascus International Airport at 1410hrs local time. The return flight, EK 914 will depart Damascus at 1630hrs, arriving in Dubai at 2030hrs local time. The flights will open up new opportunities for travellers to conveniently connect to and from the airline's network of nearly 150 destinations and will support the UAE's efforts to strengthen bilateral ties and support Syrian aspirations to rebuild and attract foreign investment across key sectors such as energy, construction and agriculture, the airline said. Emirates customers flying to and from Damascus will also benefit from the airline's codeshare partnership with flydubai, which will complement its flight schedule and provide more options and convenience when flying in and out of the Syrian capital. Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group said: 'Emirates is pleased to restart operations to Damascus and support Syria's road ahead by providing better choice and connectivity, essential economic links for inwards investment as well as opening new trade lanes and global market access for the country. Re-establishing air travel and connectivity is also good news for our customers that make up the expansive Syrian diaspora across the Americas, Europe and the GCC, who are eager to fly back home and reconnect to their roots, and leverage their knowledge, skills, expertise and resources in ongoing development efforts. "We would like to thank the Syrian authorities for their support in strengthening connectivity between Dubai and Damascus and look forward to boosting links to and from the country through our regularly scheduled operations.' The UAE and Syria's trade volumes reached $680 million (AED2.5 billion) in 2024, a 23% increase over the previous year, and the new flights will further stimulate vital trade ties. The UAE's thriving Syrian community of over 350,000 nationals have played an integral role in the UAE's prosperity, contributing through entrepreneurial ventures and skilled expertise while further enriching the country's vibrant cultural tapestry, it said. -TradeArabia News Service
Trade Arabia
a day ago
- Trade Arabia
GCC financial markets' total capitalisation hits $4.2 trillion
The overall composite index of financial markets in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries recorded a slight growth of 0.7% in 2024. The index reflects the performance of GCC financial markets as a unified bloc. By the end of 2024, the total market capitalisation of GCC financial markets stood at approximately $4.2 trillion, according to the latest statistics issued by the GCC Statistical Centre (GCC-Stat). However, the total market capitalisation witnessed a decline of 4.4% compared to the end of 2023. In 2024, the market capitalisation of GCC financial markets accounted for around 3.5% of the total global market capitalisation, it added.
