Cologne Bonn Airport is expanding its route network with two additional capital city connections: The Greek airline Air Mediterranean is now launching flights to Athens, with the option of a direct onward flight to Damascus in Syria.
These new scheduled flights, which operate every Wednesday, represent a welcome addition to the offering and are aimed at both holidaymakers and travelers heading to Syria. The expansion of the flight schedule underscores the airport's efforts to further expand its international connections and offer travelers a wider choice of destinations.
Expansion of the capital network
With the launch of these new services by Air Mediterranean, the number of connections to the capital city from Cologne/Bonn continues to grow. Thilo Schmid, CEO of Cologne/Bonn Airport GmbH, emphasized: "With this new airline, our range of connections to the capital city continues to expand. The flights to Athens are attractive both for holidaymakers in Greece and for passengers planning onward travel to Syria." This is a strategic step for the airport, which is positioning itself as an important hub in the region. Reports from the German aviation industry, such as the 2024 annual report of the German Aviation Association (BDL), indicate a continued demand for direct connections, especially to less-served markets.
Captain Marios Samprakos, Air Mediterranean's Accountable Manager, also expressed his delight at the cooperation: "We are delighted to work with Cologne Airport to provide convenient travel for passengers from Germany and the surrounding area who wish to travel to Athens or Damascus and beyond." He emphasized that the airline's inspiration is "to meet passengers' needs and fly around the world with Mediterranean hospitality," while focusing on expanding its route network. This expansion reflects Air Mediterranean's focus on establishing Athens as a European hub and creating connections to regions with high travel demand.
Greece's vibrant capital: Athens
Athens, the vibrant capital of Greece, offers a unique blend of ancient history and modern lifestyle. The city is world-famous for its impressive archaeological sites, most notably the Acropolis, which towers majestically above the city. It is considered a symbol of the cradle of democracy and Western civilization. For tourists, Athens offers not only a wealth of historical sights but also a vibrant cultural scene with theaters, museums, and galleries.
The diverse culinary offerings range from traditional taverns to modern gourmet restaurants, and the vibrant nightlife attracts visitors from all over the world. The Greek Tourism Authority has recorded a steady increase in visitor numbers from Germany in recent years, underscoring the attractiveness of Athens as a destination for German travelers.
Damascus: A Window to the History of the Orient
The connection to Damascus, the fascinating capital of Syria, opens a route to one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. The narrow streets of the Old City are characterized by historic souks, impressive mosques, and a rich cultural diversity. Damascus is known for its hospitality and famous mezze cuisine. Despite the challenges the city and the country have faced in recent years, Damascus remains a vibrant center of history and culture in the Middle East.
However, it is important to note that travel conditions to Damascus require special attention. The German Federal Foreign Office continues to warn against travel to Syria on its website, as of July 2025, and advises against all travel to the country. The security situation is classified as extremely dangerous, with risks from armed conflict, airstrikes, terrorism, arbitrary arrest, and kidnapping. Numerous international travel advisories, including those from the U.S. State Department and other states, also advise against travel to Syria, pointing out the limited ability of consular missions to provide assistance to citizens in the country. Travelers intending to fly to Damascus should thoroughly inform themselves about the current travel and security advice in advance and carefully consider the associated risks.
According to reports, including one from Smartraveller in June 2025, large parts of Syria's infrastructure and public services are disrupted, including water and electricity supplies, as well as medical services. Despite these difficulties, there are reports, such as one from Alestiklal.net in May 2025, that the Syrian government is focusing on reviving the tourism sector for the 2025 season and making investments to generate revenue for the state treasury. This demonstrates some effort to stabilize the situation and resume tourism activities, albeit amid ongoing security concerns.
Flight details and airline
Flights from Cologne/Bonn to Athens with an onward flight option to Damascus depart on Wednesdays at 13:00 PM. The return flight also departs on Wednesdays. The flight time to Athens is three hours, and the onward flight to Damascus is two hours. Air Mediterranean operates a Boeing 737 on this route. Tickets for this new connection are available through all major travel agencies, online travel agencies, and the website fly2syria.com.
Air Mediterranean is a Greek airline that received its Air Operator's Certificate (AOC) from the Hellenic Civil Aviation Authority (HCAA) in January 2017, in compliance with the regulations of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). The airline was founded by investors with extensive experience in the aviation industry, boasting more than 35 years of expertise. Its goal is to make Athens a major European hub, providing connections where they have previously been lacking. According to information from Flightradar24 as of July 2025, Air Mediterranean operates a fleet of Boeing 737-400 aircraft.
The opening of this new route to Athens and Damascus underscores Air Mediterranean's role as an airline committed to serving niche markets and providing connectivity in regions perhaps less frequented by larger airlines. For Cologne Bonn Airport, this represents a diversification of its offering and a strengthening of its position as an international gateway.
Significance for Cologne Bonn Airport
The expansion of the route network is of strategic importance for Cologne/Bonn Airport. As one of the most important airports in North Rhine-Westphalia, it plays a key role in the regional economy and tourism. The new direct flights will help increase the attractiveness of Cologne/Bonn as a destination and starting point for international travel. This is beneficial for business travelers who need efficient connections and for holidaymakers who desire a wider choice of destinations.
Cologne/Bonn Airport has continuously invested in its infrastructure in recent years to meet the growing demands of modern air travel. Collaboration with new airlines such as Air Mediterranean is an important part of this strategy. It enables the airport to optimize its offerings and respond to the needs of different passenger groups. The development of new markets, such as the direct connection to Damascus, even if it is subject to special travel advice, also opens up specific travel options for certain target groups, such as those with family or business ties to the region.
Air Mediterranean's new flight connections from Cologne/Bonn to Athens and Damascus are an important step in the further internationalization of Cologne Bonn Airport. While the route to Athens is attractive for both leisure and business travelers and strengthens the connection to Greece, the option of connecting to Damascus opens up a specific travel option.
However, travelers to Syria should be sure to inform themselves about the current, still critical, travel and safety advice and make their decision with the utmost caution. Overall, the expansion of the route network contributes to further consolidating Cologne/Bonn Airport's role as an important regional and international hub.