Sweden's government has rejected an application by Syrianair (RB, Damascus) to operate scheduled flights between Damascus and Stockholm Arlanda, citing aviation safety and security risks in Syrian airspace. The decision was first reported by Arabic-language Swedish news site Alkompis.
The decision, dated October 15, 2026, was issued by the Ministry of Rural Affairs and Infrastructure. It states that the security situation in Syria is an obstacle to the proposed operation under the Swedish Aviation Ordinance, which requires authorities to weigh aviation safety and security when assessing permits for scheduled services.
Syrianair first applied on June 11, 2026, and completed its application on August 11, according to the report citing the official document. It sought to launch 4x weekly services from August 25, 2026. The services were to be operated with A320s wet leased from Heston Airlines (HN, Vilnius), as Syrianair lacks EU Third Country Operator certification. The carrier already wet leases one A320-200 from the Lithuanian carrier for its Amsterdam Schiphol flights.
On receiving the application, the Swedish Transport Agency referred it to the government on September 7 and recommended rejecting it. Its assessment cited several factors, such as continued armed conflict, fragmented air traffic control, risk of civilian aircraft being misidentified by air-defence systems, and a European aviation safety guidance warning of continuing risks in Syrian airspace.
The agency acknowledged that a 1955 bilateral air services agreement gives Syrian carriers the right to serve Stockholm, but said current risks stood in the way of a permit. It also noted that other European states allow operations to Damascus, including Syrianair's Amsterdam service.
ch-aviation data shows that the only other airlines servicing Damascus from the European Union are Dan Air and LEAV Aviation. LEAV also operates to Aleppo.
Syrianair last held a Swedish permit, as Syrian Arab Airlines, for the IATA northern summer 2012 season. The decision covers only this application and is not a general ban on flights between Sweden and Syria.
The rejection comes as Syrianair works to expand its fleet and network after the country's opening to traffic following the 2024 resignation of former President Bashar Al Assad. The flag carrier announced in September that it plans to induct 10 additional aircraft by the end of 2026, continuing efforts to restore operations after years of minimal activity and crippling EU and US sanctions.
