Turkish Airlines resumed flights to Syria on Thursday after a 13-year suspension, with a flight landing in Damascus from Istanbul airport, state media reported.

Turkish Airlines has announced an intention to start direct flights from its Istanbul base to Auckland and Minneapolis later in 2025.

Turkey's national flag carrier resumed flights to the Syrian capital Damascus on Thursday after a break of nearly 13 years, state news agency Anadolu reported. A plane with 349 passengers took off from Istanbul International Airport for Damascus on Thursday morning in first such flight since April 2012,

After Turkish Airlines began flying to Denver in June 2024, it stated that it would be adding Minneapolis, Charlotte, Philadelphia, and Orlando to its list of US destinations. In December of last year, Turkish Airlines also operated its first flight to Santiago de Chile via São Paulo, which was the carrier's longest route.

It has not provided any further details but chairman Ahmet Bolat announced plans to launch services to Minneapolis in April or May this year and also to Auckland, Turkish website Turizm ekonomi reported.

Turkish Airlines halted Israel operations with the outbreak of the war in October 2023. Even so the airline has decided to save its flight slots at Ben Gurion airport. In the aviation industry, slots - reserved times for takeoffs and landings at airports - are an expensive and valuable resource - and one of an airline's most important assets.

Commercial flights between Turkey and Syria resumed Thursday after 13 years with a Turkish Airlines flight from Istanbul to Damascus. Turkish media showed Syrian families draped in their national flag singing pro-opposition songs and cheering as they prepared to board flight TK0846 to Damascus.