Middle Eastern conflicts are changing the regional aviation map.

In May 2026, the Syrian Civil Aviation Directorate recorded nearly 12,000 transit flights, as regional airlines proactively diverted their routes to avoid areas affected by the conflict in Iran.

Data from Syrian aviation authorities shows that 11,801 flights passed through the country's airspace, more than double the 4,267 flights in February – before the war in Iran disrupted regional aviation. Compared to the same period last year, transit flight traffic in May increased sharply by approximately 375%.

Previously, Syrian airspace was considered a dangerous zone throughout the 14-year civil war. The current shift in the situation could bring significant revenue to the Syrian government .

Based on the fixed fee of $499 per flight implemented since the beginning of this year, traffic volume in the past month could generate up to $5.9 million in revenue for the country.

However, the Syrian General Directorate of Civil Aviation currently refuses to comment on these specific figures.

Airlines were forced to reassess flight routes after the US and Israel launched airstrikes that marked the beginning of the war in Iran on February 28.

The closure of airspace over the Gulf region and Iraq in March put transport units in a difficult position.

Although the ceasefire helped reopen some areas in April, data from flight tracking services Flightradar24 and AirNav shows that the majority of flights from Dubai and Doha to Europe now choose to fly over central Syria instead of Iraq.

Flying over Syria helps airlines shorten travel times and cut fuel costs amid rising global oil prices due to the conflict.

However, European aviation safety authorities are still advising airlines to avoid flying over Syria. Therefore, the increase in traffic is mainly coming from Gulf airlines, while Asian and North American airlines are still avoiding Middle Eastern airspace.

Omar al-Hosari, head of the Syrian General Directorate of Civil Aviation, assessed that the increase in flight traffic reflects a real shift in how airlines view the country's airspace.

To optimize revenue, Syria has delegated the collection of transit fees to domestic ground service agencies and international partners such as the consulting firm OPSGroup and the Lebanese private flight planning company International Flight Planning Solutions.

Syria also implemented a policy of reducing fees by 50% for domestic flights and aircraft registered in Syria, while completely waiving fees for private jets of heads of state, official delegations, or search and rescue operations.

(VNA/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/xung-dot-trung-dong-thay-doi-ban-do-hang-khong-khu-vuc-post1114055.vnp