Syria's Aleppo International Airport reopens for domestic, international flights
The first passenger flight from Damascus landed at Aleppo International Airport after it reopened for air traffic on Tuesday, amid an official ceremony attended by representatives of Syria's new interim government, the SANA news agency reported.
The airport was closed in November during the offensive by rebel groups against the regime of Bashar Assad in early December.
Syrian authorities have conducted maintenance and restoration work over the past three months to resume air traffic to and from Aleppo, the country's second largest city after the capital and an important industrial and trade center.
Authorities announced that Aleppo will begin receiving international flights, facilitating the return of nearly 10 million Syrian refugees currently living in Turkey and Europe. It will also enable the visits of local and foreign investors to the city, SANA added.
Alaa Sallal, the director of relations at the Syrian Civil Aviation Authority, said efforts are underway to expand Aleppo International Airport's services 'to turn it into a key air gateway in Syria capable of handling more flights and connecting the country to the world.'
In January, international flights to and from Damascus resumed for the first time since the fall of Assad with a direct flight from Doha — the first in 13 years.
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