In January 2025, Turkish Airlines is sending a clear signal of a realignment in aviation policy in the Middle East and North Africa. The Turkish airline has resumed flights to the Syrian capital Damascus and to Benghazi, Libya's second largest city. These two routes had been removed from the airline's route network for years due to the unstable political and military situations in the countries concerned. By resuming these routes, Turkish Airlines is not only strengthening its position as the largest airline serving the most international destinations in the world, but also as a mediator in a geopolitical situation characterized by political upheaval and tension.
The resumption of flights to Damascus by Turkish Airlines is a remarkable step. The Syrian civil war that began in 2011 led to a massive decline in international air connections. After the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime and the political unrest that followed, Turkish Airlines also suspended its flights to the Syrian capital. However, after the regime change in December 2024 and Turkey's subsequent rapprochement with the Syrian government, manifested by the visit of the new Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani to Ankara in late January 2025, a new opportunity opened up for the resumption of the connection.
Flights between Istanbul and Damascus are scheduled to begin on January 23, 2025, initially three times a week. The political talks between Turkey and Syria prior to this step played a decisive role in laying the foundation for this return. However, the Syrian authorities are prepared for the resumption of the route with special entry regulations. There is an entry ban for nationals of Israel and Iran, which indicates the political tensions in the region. Lebanese citizens and members of the press must also expect restrictions on entry. These new regulations underline the still fragile situation in Syria and the associated geopolitical challenges.
However, Turkish Airlines is not the first airline to resume its flights to Damascus. On January 16, 2025, Royal Jordanian also announced the resumption of its flights from Amman to Damascus. These flights will initially take place monthly from January 31, 2025, before increasing to a daily frequency by April 2025.
Resumption of connection to Benghazi: Libya also opens up
In addition to Syria, Turkish Airlines has also resumed flights to Benghazi, in eastern Libya. For a long time, Benghazi was inaccessible to only a few international airlines due to political instability and the ongoing civil war in Libya. After the overthrow of Libyan dictator Muammar al-Gaddafi in 2011, the country was deeply divided politically, with the eastern part under the control of forces led by Khalifa Haftar. As a result, Turkish Airlines suspended its flights to Benghazi in 2015 as the security situation in the region continued to deteriorate.
But here too, there are signs of change. Turkey, which continues to support the internationally recognized government in Tripoli, has made increasing diplomatic approaches to Haftar and his forces in Benghazi since 2024. This could provide the basis for resuming flights to the east of the country. From January 2025, Turkish Airlines will fly three times a week from Istanbul to Benghazi with Boeing 737-800 aircraft. This step shows how the political framework is changing and how Turkey may be positioning itself as a key player in Libya.
In April 2024, Turkish Airlines had already resumed flights to Mitiga International Airport in Tripoli. This route is currently operated five times a week, demonstrating the Turkish airline's increasing confidence in Libyan stabilization. According to Cirium's SRS Analyzer, only two other international airlines currently operate in Libya: Royal Jordanian, which flies to both Tripoli and Benghazi, and ITA Airways, which resumed its Rome-Tripoli service in January 2025.
A geopolitical shift in air transport
The resumption of flights to Damascus and Benghazi is another example of the changing geopolitical realities in the Middle East and North Africa. These regions, which have been marked by years of political unrest and conflict, are increasingly experiencing a stabilization that is also reflected in aviation. Turkey's diplomatic efforts to normalize its ties with Syria and Libya demonstrate a geostrategic reorientation that affects not only aviation, but also the political and economic relations between these countries and Turkey.
The aviation industry as a whole is increasingly responding to the geopolitical changes in the region. Airlines that have not operated routes in countries such as Syria and Libya for years are now returning, showing that the regional conflicts may be on the way to a resolution. It remains to be seen whether other international airlines will follow suit.
The resumption of flights to Damascus and Benghazi marks an important turning point in the history of international aviation in the region. Turkish Airlines is not only signaling its strong market position, but is also playing a significant role in the geopolitical reorganization of the Middle East and North Africa. Despite the ongoing political tensions in both countries, the move shows some hope for a more peaceful and stable future. Developments in Syria and Libya will continue to be closely monitored, as they could have a lasting impact on international air traffic and relations between the countries.