Berlin, November 11th, 2026 (The Berlin Spectator) – Syrian Airlines has added Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) to its network. The country’s national carrier operates flights to Damascus on Tuesdays and Fridays, using an Airbus A320 with 156 seats. The trip from Berlin takes four hours and 15 minutes. According to the airport company, the route is based on an air transport agreement between Germany and Syria, which was signed in mid-July.
“Especially for the many people in Berlin and Brandenburg with family, cultural or business ties to Syria, the new connection creates additional travel options”, the head of the airport operator, Aletta von Massenbach, said. The airport also noted that two weekly departures offer flexibility for weekend and short trips.
Syrian Airlines was founded in 1946 and is headquartered in Damascus. It serves 18 destinations in Syria, Europe, Africa and the Middle East, among them Amsterdam, Doha, Abu Dhabi, Istanbul and Dubai. Its fleet includes Airbus, Boeing and regional aircraft. As part of a modernization program, the airline took delivery of its first A320 jets this year.
Traffic Rights
Another carrier with Middle Eastern roots is not yet ready to follow. Emirates has put its plans to serve BER on hold for now, according to its president, Tim Clark. The German government had granted the airline additional traffic rights in September as part of an agreement with the United Arab Emirates. Under that deal, Emirates may serve a fifth German airport, in addition to Frankfurt, Munich, Düsseldorf and Hamburg.
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Clark told reporters in Berlin that the talks had gone smoothly until the full text of the agreement arrived. He said the remainder was less generous than Emirates had hoped. “We hope to get in touch with the Transport Ministry here again to clarify a few things in this regard”, he said. He did not say which points are the problem.
The airline could start flying to BER on April 1st if the ministry is willing to make concessions. “But that has been put on hold until we have more clarity”, Clark said. Emirates has wanted to serve the airport in Schönefeld for years. A flight from BER would connect passengers with the carrier’s Dubai hub and with numerous onward destinations.
It would not be the only nonstop link between the two cities. Eurowings plans to offer flights to Dubai from BER starting November 25th, as part of its winter schedule.
