Airport Operations Halted
Syria temporarily closed its southern air corridors on 8 June 2026 and suspended operations at Damascus International Airport, the country's main international gateway. The civil aviation authority described the move as a precautionary measure tied to the security situation in the region.
The authority said the suspension covered all operations at the Damascus hub for the duration of the closure, citing continuous technical assessments by a dedicated risk-management committee.
Flights Rerouted to Aleppo
The national carrier adjusted several services to keep traffic moving while the southern corridors were shut. A Damascus–Dubai flight was shifted to depart from Aleppo International Airport instead of the capital, and an inbound Jeddah–Damascus service was redirected to land at Aleppo.
The carrier said the changes were made to protect passenger safety and maintain operations, adding that travelers would be notified of any further adjustments to schedules, routes, or bookings.
Pilgrim Returns Postponed
The body that manages Hajj and Umrah travel postponed flights carrying Syrian pilgrims home from Medina that had been scheduled for 8 June 2026, holding them until further notice. It linked the delay to heightened regional tensions affecting air movement.
Hours of Disruption
The closure of the southern corridors was first set for 12 hours and was later extended until 11 p.m. on 8 June 2026. Damascus airport remained out of service throughout that window, leaving Aleppo as the main operating point for affected routes.
Regional Backdrop
The disruption coincided with an exchange of strikes in the wider region, during which fragments of intercepted projectiles fell on Syrian territory. Civil defense teams reported a fire in farmland in the Najha area of rural Damascus, with additional debris recorded near Kiswah and in the Deraa countryside.
For travelers and freight moving through Damascus, the shutdown concentrated activity on Aleppo and underscored how quickly regional flare-ups can interrupt Syria's reopening air links.