Overflights Jump 378%
Syrian airspace handled 11,801 transiting aircraft in May 2026, compared with 2,468 in the same month a year earlier, an increase of 378 percent. The figures were disclosed on 1 June 2026 by the head of the General Authority for Civil Aviation and Air Transport.
From a Low Base
The comparison underlines how sharply traffic had fallen: only 2,468 aircraft crossed the airspace in May 2025. Climbing to 11,801 a year later restores monthly overflight volumes to levels not seen for years across the country.
A Corridor Reopens
The jump reflects a recovery of overflight operations, in which airlines cross Syrian territory without landing. Syria sits on corridors linking Asia, Europe and the Gulf, and wider use of its airspace points to renewed willingness among foreign carriers to route aircraft through the country.
Officials attributed the rebound to upgraded air navigation services and stricter safety standards rather than to any single airline.
Confidence in the Skies
Omar Al-Hasri, who leads the aviation authority, said the data showed that "these figures reflect the restoration of confidence in Syrian airspace and the success of national efforts to develop air navigation services."
He credited round-the-clock work by air traffic controllers with sustaining the increase through the month.
Signs of Sector Recovery
The renewed traffic is among the clearer signs that the aviation sector is regaining a foothold after a prolonged downturn. Sustained growth in overflights would deepen the country's reintegration into the regional air-transport network and the fee-based services that come with it.
Targeting a Doubling
The authority said it aims to double transit traffic in the coming months by continuing to modernize navigation systems and strengthen airline confidence. It framed the May figures as a step toward restoring the country's earlier standing as a regional transit point on global aviation routes.