New chapter as Emirates returns to Damascus for first time in 13 years

Flight represents deeply personal milestone for many in Syrian diaspora

- BY DHANUSHA GOKULAN

For many Syrians, including those based in Dubai, the journey home has been decades in the making. On Wednesday, Emirates operated its first flight to Damascus in 13 years, carrying passengers whose return signifies both profound personal milestones and a cautious sense of national hope.

Among them was Khalil, a Syrian national from the US, who told Gulf News onboard, “I am flying to my home country, Syria. I have been away for 40 years.” Khalil's journey, which involved flying from Miami to Dubai before connecting to Syria, highlights the newly opened possibilities as more airlines resume scheduled operations. This marked his second trip home in two months.