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After a standoff that risked triggering an aviation crisis, Türkiye and Syria have reached an agreement to modernize Syria’s airports, according to Turkish media reports.
The breakthrough came after the Syrian Civil Aviation Authority abruptly canceled the maiden flight of AJet, Türkiye’s low-cost carrier, to Damascus on April 21. In response, Syrian authorities demanded reciprocal access for Syrian airlines to Turkish airspace.
Türkiye currently bars Syrian airlines from operating flights to the country, citing ongoing international sanctions and non-compliance with aviation safety regulations. At present, Turkish Airlines maintains seven weekly flights to Damascus. However, Syrian carriers, including the state-owned Syrian Air and private airline Cham Wings, continue to face bans due to their failure to meet European standards and their inclusion on U.S. sanctions lists.
According to business-focused dunya.com, the new agreement was formalized through a memorandum of understanding signed between Türkiye’s General Directorate of State Airports Authority (DHMI) and the Syrian Civil Aviation Authority. Under the deal, Syria's airports and air traffic management systems will be restructured to align with international standards. This includes upgrades in communication technologies, airport operations, aviation safety, and firefighting capabilities.
The memorandum also outlines the provision of Turkish technical expertise and operational support aimed at boosting Syria’s institutional capacity. The broader goal is to foster a secure, efficient, and sustainable civil aviation environment in Syria, which has seen years of degradation due to prolonged conflict and international isolation.
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