Jordan delays decision on resuming flights to Damascus

The head of Jordan’s Civil Aviation Regulatory Commission (CARC) announced on Sunday that no decision has been made to resume flights from Amman to Damascus. 

This statement comes after the Syrian Civil Aviation Authority (SCAA) declared that international flights to Damascus International Airport would resume on Tuesday. Services at the airport had been suspended following the ousting of Bashar al-Assad’s regime last month.

Royal Jordanian Airlines, Jordan’s flagship carrier, has stated that current conditions in Syria do not meet safety standards. Other regional carriers, including Emirates and Qatar Airways, have also adopted a cautious stance, refraining from re-establishing routes to Damascus amid ongoing security concerns.

The primary challenge lies in the absence of a functioning national army in Syria. Security is now managed by various Islamist militias, whose reliability and effectiveness have been called into question. 

This fragmented security apparatus has further complicated efforts to ensure the safety of civilian aviation.

While Syria has sought to project an image of stability with the reopening of its primary airport, the reluctance of major airlines to resume services underscores the deep challenges the country faces in regaining international trust. 

The resumption of flights will likely depend on substantial improvements in security and a more cohesive approach to governance in post-Assad Syria.