Damascus International Airport resumed operations on January 7, with the first flight of Syrian Airlines departing this morning for Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates, local media reported.

Local airlines and international carriers have become increasingly interested in returning to regular schedules as Syrians who were previously exiled wish to return to the country. Foreign business groups, especially from Gulf Arab countries and Turkey have also shown renewed interest in Syria. 

The flight carried 145 passengers onboard. The three-star flag, traditionally associated with opposition to Assad and now adopted by the new authorities, was displayed on the plane, as reported by SANA.

"We assure both Arab and international airlines that we are in the process of fully rehabilitating Aleppo and Damascus airports with the assistance of our partners to ensure they are fully capable of receiving flights from around the world." Ashhad al-Salibi, the head of the authority, told SANA.

Qatar Airways also resumed its flights to Damascus International Airport, with the first passenger flight arriving in the afternoon, marking the airline's return after a hiatus of more than 13 years. Qatar Airways plans to operate three weekly flights from Doha to Damascus.

Later, on January 7, Cham Wings Airlines, the second-largest airline in the country, announced the resumption of direct flights from Damascus International Airport. A daily flight is scheduled from Damascus to Sharjah.

The airline added that it plans to fly to additional destinations in the future. On January 7, a Royal Jordanian Airlines plane departed for Damascus on a test flight as part of the renewed regional connections.

A video also spread on social media showing Syrians celebrating inside a flight just before it departed from Doha Airport to Damascus following the airport’s reopening.

Most of Syria's aeroplanes are several years old, and due to the sanctions on the country, many jets are mothballed at the capital's airport.