Algeria prepares to resume passenger flights to Syria

The Algerian ambassador in Damascus has revealed that his country is planning to resume passenger flights to Syria, Quds Press reported on Friday. “The Syrian community in Algeria is over 40,000 strong,” explained Saleh Bosha, “and this pushes us to resume flights between the two countries.”

Flights were suspended at the beginning of the Syrian crisis in 2011. Their expected resumption was reiterated by Syrian Transportation Minister Ali Hammoud during a meeting with the ambassador.

It was also agreed to activate commercial activity between Syria and Algeria which, stressed Hammoud, is very important. Syria’s Mediterranean ports are expected to be opened to Algerian goods, as well as its airports.

According to the media reports, the minister added that three European airlines have applied for permission to resume flights to Damascus. He gave no further details.

If Air Algérie resumes its flights, it will be the first such Arab and international company to operate in Syria since 2011; only local and private airlines have been active during the crisis.