The Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) reported that the plane took off from Damascus International Airport as part of the resumption of air links between Syria and the UAE.
The UAE announced last Monday its decision to resume flights to Syria, noting that it is coordinating with relevant authorities to complete the necessary technical arrangements for the resumption of flights.
In the same context, Syrian Airlines announced on Thursday the commencement of direct flights to Dubai and Sharjah, starting Sunday, as an exceptional first phase.
In a statement on its official Facebook page, the airline stated that four weekly flights will be operated between Damascus and Dubai, on Saturdays, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, with a plan to increase this number to seven flights per week. The plan also includes operating flights to Sharjah on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Fridays, with the intention of increasing the frequency to a daily flight, in addition to two weekly flights to Abu Dhabi on Tuesdays and Fridays.
Most airlines have suspended flights to Damascus since 2012, following the violent suppression of the popular protests that erupted in Syria in 2011.
On January 7, air traffic gradually resumed to and from Damascus International Airport, following the Syrian Civil Aviation Authority's announcement that international flights would resume.