Latest news with #commercialflights
The National
7 days ago
- Business
- The National
Dubai-Beirut flights: UAE airlines now using Syrian airspace to slash up to hour off travel time
The resumption of commercial flights to Damascus is having a positive effect on flight times to other Middle Eastern destinations, particularly Beirut. UAE airline flydubai resumed flights to Damascus on Sunday after a 12-year suspension. Other airlines are following suit, with Saudi Arabia's flynas resuming the Syrian capital from June 12 and Emirates airline set to relaunch flights between Dubai and Damascus on July 16. Data from flight-tracking site Flightradar24 shows an Emirates flight from Dubai to Beirut on Monday took 2.51 hours. Five days earlier, on May 27, the same journey took 3.40 hours – nearly 50 minutes more. Qatar Airways also resumed flying over Syria in February, shaving off 45 to 60 minutes of flight time. According to Flightradar24, the current Qatar Airways flight time between Doha and Beirut is approximately 2.45 hours. 'For airlines, the Syrian airspace provides a better air corridor when travelling, especially on westbound flights that are often impacted by headwinds,' said Saj Ahmad, chief analyst at StrategicAero Research. 'So any time saved means fuel is saved too – and that's a cost saving for airlines as well. 'Opening up of commercial airspace provides a double boon for Syria,' he adds. 'Not only will it stand to gain revenue from traffic overflying their territory, it opens up the possibility of other airlines also coming back to the country too.' Emirates flight paths on May 27 and June 2 The UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority announced the resumption of flights between the Emirates and Syria on April 14, following Syrian President Ahmad Al Shara 's visit to the UAE earlier that month during which he held talks with President Sheikh Mohamed. The opening of Syrian airspace in January has also led to shortened flight times between the UAE and Lebanon further north. 'Most UAE flights stopped using Syrian airspace in 2014, adding an extra hour to Beirut-bound flights,' a contributor to LebanonJets, which tracks flights in and out of Beirut, told The National. Dubai's flydubai and Sharjah's Air Arabia resumed flying over Syria en route to Beirut on March 11. The flydubai flights used to take four hours and 10 minutes. 'It has been reduced to three hours and 45 minutes since resuming over flying Syrian airspace from March,' a spokesperson for flydubai told The National. 'We were the first UAE carrier to touch down in Damascus on June 1, offering passengers a daily service from Dubai.' Emirates airline began flying over Syria last week. Despite the shorter flight times, airlines are yet to revise their fares, the LebanonJets representative points out. At the time of writing, a return ticket between Beirut and Dubai on Middle East Airlines, the flag carrier of Lebanon, is approximately Dh1,575. On Emirates, the same route is approximately Dh1,751 while on Etihad Airways, they are approximately Dh2,275. Due to a high risk to civilian aircraft during the conflict that began in 2011, Syrian airspace was closed off by international carriers. According to the Conflict Zone & Risk Database, an independent airspace monitor for airlines, commercial airlines avoided Syria entirely due to the risk of aircraft being targeted in error or caught in the crossfire during air attacks involving Israel, Russia and Iran. The restarting of regular flights to Syria marks another significant step forward in the nation's postwar recovery. It will also be a major boost for Syrians in the UAE who have been deprived of a direct air link to connect with family and friends for so many years.
The National
03-06-2025
- Business
- The National
Dubai-Beirut flights: Reopening of Syrian airspace to UAE carriers shaves up to an hour off flight time
The resumption of commercial flights to Damascus is having a positive knock-on effect on flight times to other Middle Eastern destinations, particularly Beirut. UAE airline flydubai resumed flights to Damascus on Sunday after a 12-year suspension. Other airlines are following suit, with Saudi Arabia's flynas reservicing the Syrian capital from June 12 and Emirates set to relaunch flights between Dubai and Damascus on July 16. Data from flight tracking site Flightradar24 shows an Emirates flight from Dubai to Beirut on Monday took 2.51 hours. Five days earlier, on May 27, the same journey took 3.40 hours – nearly 50 minutes more. Qatar Airways also resumed flying over Syria in February, shaving off 45 to 60 minutes of flight time. According to Flightradar24, the current Qatar Airways flight time between Doha and Beirut is approximately 2.45 hours. 'For airlines, the Syrian airspace provides a better air corridor when travelling, especially on westbound flights that are often impacted by headwinds,' said Saj Ahmad, chief analyst at StrategicAero Research. 'So any time saved means fuel is saved too – and that's a cost saving for airlines as well. 'Opening up of commercial airspace provides a double boon for Syria,' he adds. 'Not only will it stand to gain revenue from traffic overflying their territory, it opens up the possibility of other airlines also coming back to the country too.' The UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority announced the resumption of flights between the Emirates and Syria on April 14, following Syrian President Ahmad Al Shara 's visit to the UAE earlier that month during which he held talks with President Sheikh Mohamed. The opening of Syrian airspace in January has also led to shortened flight times between the UAE and Lebanon further north. 'Most UAE flights stopped using Syrian airspace in 2014, adding an extra hour to Beirut-bound flights,' a contributor to LebanonJets, which tracks flights in and out of Beirut, told The National. Dubai's flydubai and Sharjah's Air Arabia resumed flying over Syria en route to Beirut on March 11. The flydubai flights used to take four hours and 10 minutes. 'It has been reduced to three hours and 45 minutes since resuming over flying Syrian airspace from March,' a spokesperson for flydubai told The National. 'We were the first UAE carrier to touch down in Damascus on June 1, offering passengers a daily service from Dubai.' Emirates Airline began flying over Syria last week. Despite the shorter flight times, airlines are yet to revise their fares, the LebanonJets representative points out. At the time of writing, a return ticket between Beirut and Dubai on Middle East Airlines, the flag carrier of Lebanon, cost approximately Dh1,575. On Emirates, the same route costs approximately Dh1,751 while on Etihad, they cost approximately Dh2,275. Due to a high risk to civilian aircraft during the conflict that began in 2011, Syrian airspace was closed off by international carriers. According to the Conflict Zone & Risk Database, an independent airspace monitor for airlines, commercial airlines avoided Syria entirely due to the risk of aircraft being targeted in error or caught in the crossfire during air attacks involving Israel, Russia and Iran. The restarting of regular flights to Syria marks another significant step forward in the nation's postwar recovery. It will also be a major boost for Syrians in the UAE who have been deprived of a direct air link to connect with family and friends for so many years.
The Independent
22-05-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Panama and Venezuela to resume flights suspended for almost a year in diplomatic tensions
Panama and Venezuela will resume commercial flights nearly a year after suspending them when they broke off diplomatic relations, Panama's Civil Aviation Authority said Thursday. Venezuela pulled its diplomatic representation from Panama last July after Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino refused to recognize Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's reelection. The Association of Venezuelan Airlines said that flights would resume 'gradually.' 'All of the airlines that had permits can begin to operate when their itineraries allow,' Marisela De Loaiza, president of the association, said in a statement. The Venezuelan government did not immediately comment. Earlier Thursday, Mulino said during his weekly news briefing that he had received a letter from Venezuela, but that he hadn't immediately read it. Mulino did say, however, that it would be in Panama's interest to resume flights, though he said he also wanted Venezuela to agree to receive Venezuelan migrants deported from Panama. Some commercial airlines had already begun advertising flights between Panama and Venezuela on Thursday. Panamanian carrier Copa announced flights would resume and said its team was working to confirm the itineraries. Venezolana Airlines advertised a flight beginning on Friday. Earlier this week, Venezuela banned the arrival of flights from Colombia after it said it had arrested more than 30 people who were allegedly plotting activities to destabilize the country ahead of legislative elections Sunday. Last July, Panama was one of the first Latin American countries to demand from Venezuelan authorities a full review of the presidential electoral results after the country's electoral authority declared Maduro the winner.
Washington Post
22-05-2025
- Business
- Washington Post
Panama and Venezuela to resume flights suspended for almost a year in diplomatic tensions
PANAMA CITY — Panama and Venezuela will resume commercial flights nearly a year after suspending them when they broke off diplomatic relations, Panama's Civil Aviation Authority said Thursday. Venezuela pulled its diplomatic representation from Panama last July after Panama President José Raúl Mulino refused to recognize Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro's reelection.
