The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has withdrawn a safety warning concerning Syrian airspace that had been in place since 2013, marking a significant step in Syria’s efforts to restore international air connectivity, the country’s civil aviation authority said.
Omar al-Hosari, head of Syria’s General Authority of Civil Aviation and Air Transport, said on Monday that ICAO had confirmed that the earlier warning would no longer serve as a basis for operational decisions concerning Syrian airspace, according to the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA).
Instead, assessments will rely on updated international aviation safety and security standards, allowing countries, regulators and airlines to reconsider decisions on flights crossing Syrian airspace and services to and from Syrian airports, al-Hosari said.
Airlines can reassess routes, but restrictions remain
The withdrawal could encourage more airlines to consider resuming services to Syria and increase the number of international flights passing through its airspace, al-Hosari said.
However, he cautioned that ICAO’s decision does not automatically remove restrictions imposed by individual countries or aviation regulators.
Syrian authorities will continue technical and diplomatic coordination with ICAO and other international aviation bodies to address those restrictions through internationally recognised safety and security assessments, he added.
The original warning, dated March 22, 2013, concerned the safety of civilian aircraft operating within the Damascus Flight Information Region.
European safety guidance remains in force
Despite ICAO’s move, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) continues to maintain a conflict-zone information bulletin covering Syrian airspace. The bulletin was revised on October 1 and remains valid until November 30, 2026.
The distinction means that airlines and national regulators must still consider applicable guidance and their own risk assessments before changing routes or resuming operations.
Syria reopened its air corridors and resumed operations at Damascus International Airport in April following temporary closures linked to regional tensions.
Damascus seeks wider international connectivity
Al-Hosari said restoring Syria’s role in international air navigation remains a strategic priority, with greater air traffic expected to support economic activity and attract investment in the country’s civil aviation sector.
The withdrawal of ICAO’s longstanding warning provides an opportunity for Syria to pursue closer integration with regional and international aviation networks, although any broader recovery will depend on airlines’ assessments and the removal of remaining operational barriers.
