Turkey has deployed a 25-member technical team to Syria to begin the restoration of Damascus International Airport, which sustained severe damage during the country’s 13-year civil war, Turkish Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu announced on Sunday.
The initiative comes just weeks after Turkish Airlines resumed flights to Damascus for the first time in 13 years, marking a significant step in re-establishing air connectivity between the two nations.
Comprehensive Rehabilitation Efforts
The Turkish team, consisting of State Airports Directorate (DHMI) personnel, has been tasked with making the airport fully operational again. As part of this effort, six trucks transported 113 vehicles, devices, and systems to modernize the airport’s infrastructure.
Key rehabilitation initiatives include:
- Installing and repairing air navigation aids
- Deploying new radio communication systems
- Conducting a detailed flight operations analysis to enhance airspace safety
Enhanced Security & Emergency Response
To improve airport security, Turkey has provided:
- 10 X-ray machines
- 4 explosive trace detectors
- 10 walk-through metal detectors
- 8 handheld metal detectors
Additionally, Turkey has supplied two domestically produced Volkan Lion 8×8 aircraft rescue and firefighting vehicles, along with various firefighting equipment, to bolster emergency response capabilities.
This large-scale rehabilitation effort underscores Turkey’s role in helping restore critical infrastructure in Syria and facilitating the return of safe and efficient air travel to Damascus International Airport.
