Etihad to launch direct Abu Dhabi-Damascus service

Etihad Airways will resume direct flights to Damascus, Syria, from June 2026, marking the carrier’s return to the market after more than a decade. 

 

The new service will operate four times weekly on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday connecting Abu Dhabi with one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities.

 

The new service will depart Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport (AUH) at 09:15 and arrive in Damascus International Airport (DAM) at 11:30. The return flight will leave DAM at 15:00, landing back in AUH by 19:00. 

 

The route will be operated using an Airbus A320 aircraft configured with eight Business class seats and 150 Economy seats.

 

Located on the banks of the Barada River, Damascus is renowned for its rich cultural heritage, including iconic landmarks such as the Umayyad Mosque and its historic souqs, making it a key regional destination for both leisure and business travellers.

 

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The new service forms part of Etihad’s ongoing strategy to expand its regional footprint and strengthen connectivity across the Middle East, having recently launched six weekly direct flights to Medina, Saudi Arabia, starting November 2025.

 

The Abu Dhabi-Damascus route will also provide Syrian travellers with seamless access through Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport, unlocking convenient onward connections across Etihad’s fast-growing global network spanning Europe, Asia and North America.

 

Antonoaldo Neves, CEO of Etihad Airways, said: “ With trade between the UAE and Syria continuing to grow strongly and a vibrant Syrian community contributing to the prosperity of the UAE, these new flights will further strengthen our social, cultural and economic ties.”

 

Etihad’s network now covers 81 destinations, with plans to reach 90 by year’s end as part of a plan involving 27 new routes for 2025, including new routes to Baku, Almaty, Tbilisi, Tashkent, Yerevan and Bucharest. 

 

One of the fastest-growing airlines in the region, Etihad plans to double both its fleet and passenger count by 2030, expanding its fleet to 200 aircraft and carrying over 38 million travellers by the decade’s end.

 

For more information, visit etihad.com