Syrian Air (سوریهای ایر) held its first flight to Copenhagen on September 21, 2023, making it the third European destination for the airline after Amsterdam and Moscow. This move comes as the airline has resumed flights to Europe since July 2023, after a decade of civil war and severe sanctions.
Challenges of Fleet Reconstruction and Development
Omar Hisham Al-Hosari, head of the Syrian Civil Aviation Authority, presented models of Airbus A320 made in China during the passenger check-in ceremony for Copenhagen. However, there are serious issues regarding the reconstruction of the airline. The return flight from Copenhagen was delayed for over 20 hours. Anwar A. Akkad, CEO of Syrian Air, explained that this delay was due to the local fuel supplier's failure to adhere to the contract.
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Akkad pointed out that the fuel shortage resulting from tensions in the Strait of Hormuz is a unique problem, and some well-known European companies have also been unable to effectively meet their commitments. He refrained from naming the supplier, only mentioning that it is based in Copenhagen.
Expansion of Flights and Fleet
CEO Anwar A. Akkad, who previously managed Etihad Airways, expressed hope for fleet expansion, announcing that the airline's fleet has tripled, with two Airbus A320s and one additional aircraft leased. Akkad and his team will travel to Washington and Seattle next month to explore the possibility of adding U.S.-made aircraft to the Syrian Air fleet.
If all goes well, the airline is expected to reach 25 destinations and acquire 10 new aircraft by the end of the year. Plans are also underway to resume flights to Stockholm and Paris, which previously had two flights a week before the war.
Geopolitical Opportunities and Economic Challenges
In addition to financial and geopolitical challenges, Syrian Air must engage with the interim presidency of Ahmad Al-Sharaa, who previously led the jihadist group Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham. Political sensitivities directly affect the choice of colors and design of the airline's new uniforms, as alcohol is currently not served on domestic or international flights.
Akkad mentioned that the airline's new colors will change to green and gold, and the new flight attendants' uniforms will also reflect these colors. Additionally, the airline is planning to hire 55 new pilots, including four women, to join the current 65 pilots.
Finally, UCC Holding of Qatar, a large construction and infrastructure consortium, is responsible for financing the leasing and purchase of new aircraft. Akkad emphasized that any new contracts with Boeing will be conducted separately, and collaboration with UCC will be limited to aircraft purchases.
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