Commercial flights between Turkey and Syria have resumed after 13 years with a Turkish Airlines flight from Istanbul to Damascus

Turkish Airlines, Turkey's national flag carrier, has resumed flights to Syria after an 11-year suspension caused by the Syrian civil war.

Turkey's national flag carrier resumed flights to the Syrian capital Damascus on Thursday after a break of nearly 13 years, state news agency Anadolu reported. A plane with 349 passengers took off from Istanbul International Airport for Damascus on Thursday morning in first such flight since April 2012,

Officials say that Turkish Airlines will resume its flights to Damascus, Syria, next week after a halt of more than a decade.

Turkey’s national flag carrier on Thursday said that it has resumed flights to the Syrian capital Damascus after a break of nearly 13 years, state news agency Anadolu reported.

Turkish Airlines — one of the world’s biggest carriers — is eyeing New Zealand for flights, according to a report from Turkey.

By bnm Gulf bureau The first Turkish Airlines flight in 13 years landed in Damascus on January 23, carrying 345 passengers including the airline's CEO Bilal Eksi, marking a significant step in Syria's reconnection with international aviation networks.