Syria and Germany signed on Thursday (July 16th) the final agreement to regulate and manage air transport between the two countries, during an official ceremony held at the Tishreen Palace in the capital, Damascus.
The signing ceremony was attended by two official delegations from both sides, where the Syrian side was signed by the Deputy Chairman of the General Authority of Civil Aviation and Air Transport, Sameh Orabi, while the German side was represented by the Minister of State at the German Foreign Ministry, Dr. Giza Andreas von Geyer.
The signing of this official agreement was the culmination of a series of ongoing bilateral talks sponsored by the Ministries of Transport and Foreign Affairs of the two countries, and a continuation of what was achieved under the Joint Declaration of Intent signed by the two sides in the German capital Berlin on March 30, 2026, which set the first guidelines for the resumption of direct air traffic.
Establishing the legal and operational framework
Official sources in the Syrian General Authority of Civil Aviation confirmed that this agreement contributes mainly to consolidating the comprehensive legal and regulatory framework for bilateral air relations between Damascus and Berlin, in order to ensure the protection of the rights of national carriers and passengers alike in accordance with the applicable international laws and standards.
The sources explained that the final signing directly paves the way for the transition to the executive and practical phase, which includes the completion of all operational and coordination procedures between the civil aviation authorities in both countries, to ensure the harmonization of the technical regulations followed and facilitate the movement of aircraft.
The technical reports accompanying the agreement indicated that the next steps will focus on the appointment of official air carriers and agents approved by the two parties, in addition to regulating air transport rights and distributing weekly frequencies for scheduled flights, in proportion to the expected volume of passenger demand and air cargo traffic between the two countries.
Completion of technical and security requirements
The Directorate of Civil Aviation (DCA) reported that the joint technical committees will immediately start holding technical meetings aimed at issuing the necessary licenses and operational approvals to the concerned airlines, in parallel with reviewing the logistical measures at the airports designated to receive these flights.
The statements issued by the Directorate indicated that the aviation authorities of the two countries will work to complete all the technical requirements and international security standards required for the actual start of operation, to ensure the safety and security of civil aviation and to provide a safe and regular travel experience for citizens in both countries.
Economic observers considered that this legal step represents an important motivation to stimulate mobility and facilitate the access of communities and expatriates, as well as its expected pivotal role in enhancing the movement of direct trade and postal exchange between Syria and Germany after years of interruption and reliance on alternative transit stations.