Egypt expresses 'deep dissatisfaction' to Netherlands over embassy attack    Global pressure mounts as Gaza fighting intensifies and death toll surges    Egypt, India's BDR Group in talks to establish biologics, cancer drug facility    AUC graduates first cohort of film industry business certificate    At TICAD, Egypt's education minister signs pacts with Casio, SAPIX    Egypt holds special importance for our investments across diverse sectors: Japanese minister    Cairo, Tokyo sign LOI to expand educational cooperation, support for persons with disabilities    Madbouly invites Japanese firms to establish industrial zone in SCZONE    Egypt to tighten waste rules, cut rice straw fees to curb pollution    Al-Sisi meets Qatar PM, Bahrain security adviser to discuss Gaza crisis, regional stability    Indian tourist arrivals to Egypt jump 18.8% in H1-2025: ministry data    Egyptian pound down vs. US dollar at Monday's close – CBE    Egypt's FM, Palestinian PM visit Rafah crossing to review Gaza aid    Egypt prepares unified stance ahead of COP30 in Brazil    Egypt recovers collection of ancient artefacts from Netherlands    Egypt harvests 315,000 cubic metres of rainwater in Sinai as part of flash flood protection measures    Egypt, Namibia explore closer pharmaceutical cooperation    Fitch Ratings: ASEAN Islamic finance set to surpass $1t by 2026-end    Renowned Egyptian novelist Sonallah Ibrahim dies at 88    Egyptian, Ugandan Presidents open business forum to boost trade    Al-Sisi says any party thinking Egypt will neglect water rights is 'completely mistaken'    Egypt's Sisi warns against unilateral Nile measures, reaffirms Egypt's water security stance    Egypt's Sisi, Uganda's Museveni discuss boosting ties    Egypt, Huawei explore healthcare digital transformation cooperation    Egypt's Sisi, Sudan's Idris discuss strategic ties, stability    Egypt to inaugurate Grand Egyptian Museum on 1 November    Greco-Roman rock-cut tombs unearthed in Egypt's Aswan    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Syrian Airlines Expands Despite US Sanctions
Published in Daily News Egypt on 22 - 06 - 2010

DAMASCUS: Syria's national air carrier Syrian Airlines has acquired two new airplanes made by the French-Italian aircraft manufacturer ATR, the first major upgrade to the country's national fleet in years.
The purchase, made possible through a $45 million loan from the Commercial Bank of Syria, will provide aircraft for two new routes between Syria's second largest city Aleppo and Moscow and Madrid.
Syrian Airlines, previously know as Syrian Arab Airlines, was established in 1946 and is one of the oldest airlines in the region.
The airline has encountered serious problems upgrading its fleet under US economic sanctions.
“The airline has suffered under the USA embargo from getting spare parts in a timely fashion,” Gulf based aviation expert Oussama Salah, told The Media Line. “Currently the airline is operating 6 Airbus 320s, 6 Boeing 727s, 2 Boeing 747 and some Russian aircraft.”
The Boeing 727 was one if the first medium range planes developed by Boeing. Syrian Arab Airlines purchased used Boeing 727s in the 1970s when the carrier was modernizing, but the aircraft went out of production in 1984.
Before the latest acquisition the airline's most modern aircraft have been Airbus planes purchased in the 1990s.
The United States currently levies three types of sanctions on Syria, the most comprehensive of which is the Syria Accountability Act, which prohibits the export to Syria of goods containing more than 10 percent of US manufactured parts. The act also prohibits Syrian air carriers from taking off, landing or flying over the United States.
Other US sanctions target the Commercial Bank of Syria for its alleged role in terror financing, as well as number of Syrian nationals for involvement in terrorism.
Analysts say Syria's close relations with its distant neighbor to the east have kept it afloat.
“Syria is, in name, a socialist republic and as such has a recent history of close relations with Russia, although relations have been turbulent,” Rory Fyfe, an expert on Syria with the Economist Intelligence Unit, told The Media Line. “Russia sells military equipment to Syria and Stroytransgaz, a Russian predominantly state-owned gas company, carries out a great deal of work in Syria. Russia recently cancelled $10 billion of debt that was owed to it by Syria, which is an indication that there are still close ties.”
The sanctions are not the only problem for Syrian Airlines, as the company faces increasing competition from both low cost and premium international carriers, particularly from the Gulf region, who are able to take advantage of the rising number of tourists visiting the country.
Low cost Gulf airlines, mainly Air Arabia from the United Arab Emirates, now enable Syrian tourists to purchase highly discounted flights to the Gulf.


Clic here to read the story from its source.