Syrian Arab Airlines

Infobox Airline
airline = SyrianAir
السورية

logo_size = 385
IATA = RB
ICAO = SYR
callsign = SYRIANAIR
parent =
founded = 1961
headquarters = Damascus, Syria
key_people = Naachat Numir (President and CEO)
hubs =

*Damascus International Airport
*Aleppo International Airport

focus_cities =
frequent_flyer = Syrian Air Frequent Flyer
lounge =
alliance =
fleet_size = 11 (+57 orders)
destinations = 49
website = http://www.syriaair.com

Syrian Arab Airlines (Arabic: مؤسسة الطيران العربية السورية), alternative name Syrianair (السورية) is the flag carrier airline of Syria, based in Damascus. It operates scheduled international services to over 40 destinations in Asia, the Middle East, Europe and North Africa, as well as domestic services. Its main base is Damascus International Airport.

Syrian Arab Airlines is a member of the Arab Air Carriers Organization.

History

The airline was established by the Government of Syria in October 1961 to succeed Syrian Airways which had been established in 1946.Fact|date=March 2008 The new Syrian Arab Airlines took over the routes previously controlled by Syrian Airways and United Arab Airlines.Fact|date=March 2008 The latter had been a short-lived airline formed by the merger of Syrian Airways and Misrair in January 1961 during the union of Syria and Egypt.Fact|date=March 2008

Syrian Arab Airlines began operation with three Douglas DC-6, two Douglas DC-4 and three Douglas DC-3, serving both domestic and international routes to the east.Fact|date=March 2008 In summer 1963, Syrianair begin its expansion to the west, starting with Rome and Munich, then London and Paris.Fact|date=March 2008 Sud Aviation Caravelle 10B3 joined the fleet in October 1965.Fact|date=March 2008 In 1976, the airline acquired a Boeing 727-200 and 747SP.Fact|date=March 2008

In the 1970s, because of the closer political ties between Syria and the Soviet Union, Syrianair acquired Soviet aircraft.Fact|date=March 2008 This included an Antonov An-26, Ilyushin Il-76 and Yakovlev Yak-40 in the 1970s and Tupolev Tu-134B-3 and Tupolev Tu-154M in the 1980s.Fact|date=March 2008

A joint service with Royal Jordanian to New York was opened in July 1978.Fact|date=March 2008

When the United States imposed sanctions on Syria, updates to Syrianair were interrupted until October of 1998, when Airbus A320-200 were bought.Fact|date=March 2008

As of August, 2006, Syrianair was in negotiations to purchase three Ilyushin Il-96-400 long-range aircraft and four Tupolev Tu-204 medium-range aircraft." [http://www.kommersant.com/page.asp?idr=500&id=674272 Russia Aircraft Industry Lands in Syria] ." "Kommersant." May 18, 2006.] " [http://www.champress.net/english/index.php?page=show_det&id=4016&select_page=2 Russian, Syrian companies agree on plane delivery to Syria] ." "Champress." June 23, 2006.]

The airline is wholly owned by the Syrian government and employs 5,325 staff.Fact|date=March 2008

Dr. Sami Khiyami, currently Syrian Ambassador in London, England, is a former senior figure within the Airline.

Destinations

Code Share

Syrian have code share agreements with the following airline:
*Royal Jordanian
*Saudi Arabian Airlines

Fleet

The Syrianair fleet consists of the following aircraft as of March 2008: [ [http://www.ch-aviation.ch/aircraft.php CH-Aviation - Airline News, Fleet Lists & More ] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.syriaair.com/ Syrian Arab Airlines]