After more than a decade of isolation, the Arabs are returning to the skies over Syria. The Arab Civil Aviation Organization announced the resumption of flights over Syrian airspace, signaling a new beginning for Syria's relations with neighboring countries and the Arab world.
The Syrian Ministry of Transport stated on Saturday, July 6, on its Facebook page that the Air Safety Committee is considered one of the most important committees of the Arab Civil Aviation Organization.
The ministry noted that Syria’s election came during the General Assembly meetings of the Arab Civil Aviation Organization at the ministerial level, held in its 28th regular session in Rabat.
This committee is considered one of the most important technical committees of the Organization, in addition to (the Air Transport Committee, the Environment Committee, the Aeronautics Committee, the Financial and Administrative Control Committee) which prepare all technical work and projects, as well as themes submitted by the General Assembly or the Executive Council.
The election of the Syrian regime as a member of the Air Safety Committee comes after it regained its seat in the 28th session of the General Assembly of the Arab Civil Aviation Organization, after 12 years of suspension of its participation.
Syria participated through a delegation from the Ministry of Transport and the public civil aviation company in the meetings of the 28th session of the Assembly and the 69th session of the Executive Council, with the participation of member countries of the Organization between July 1st and 4th.
The Director-General of Syrian Civil Aviation, Bassam Mansour, stressed the importance of participation after many years of interruption due to the “crisis” and the economic sanctions imposed on Syria, as mentioned by the Russian Sputnik agency on Friday, July 5.
Mansour pointed out that the Arab Civil Aviation Organization, affiliated with the Arab League, informed the Syrian side about the full return of its activities and events, noting that this will prompt Arab countries to activate flights to Damascus and encourage many airlines to cross Syrian airspace.
The Director of Syrian Civil Aviation noted that there will be flights with many Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Iraq, the UAE, Lebanon, Egypt, Jordan, and Sudan, indicating that civil aviation flights between Damascus and the Greek capital, Athens, have been operated, in addition to some flights from Syria to Guangzhou in China, Russia, and Iran.
Mansour added that Syria must provide all cooperation and facilities to Arab airlines wishing to return to Syrian airspace, whether for crossing or landing, and work to translate recommendations and decisions on the ground in a way that serves Arab aspirations that benefit the work of the Arab Civil Aviation Organization.
The General Assembly meetings of the Arab Civil Aviation Organization discussed the return of airlines to using Syrian airspace for transit and landing at Syrian airports.
The Syrian civil aviation fleet includes 4 planes from Cham Wings Airlines and 5 planes from Syrian Airlines, all in “good and safe condition,” while a private airline company has been granted a license and is awaiting the start of its operations in the coming weeks, according to the local Dam Press site.
In another development, Saudi Arabia has won the presidency of the Executive Council of the Arab Civil Aviation Organization (ACAO) with unanimous support during the 28th Ordinary General Assembly in Rabat.
It's to be noted that Saudi Arabia has also contributed $1 million to the International Civil Aviation Organization’s “No Country Left Behind” initiative.
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