Damascus is often described as one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities—a place where layers of history sit almost casually on top of one another. Minarets, Roman columns, Ottoman courtyards, and modern apartment blocks all coexist, giving the city a dense, time-compressed feel that few capitals can match.
Damascus International Airport (DAM / OSDI)
Damascus International Airport lies southeast of the city and serves as Syria’s main international gateway. The airport is functional rather than flashy, but arriving or departing here carries a certain symbolic weight: you are leaving from (or arriving in) one of the great historic crossroads of the Middle East. Security procedures are thorough, and operations reflect the country’s complex recent history, yet the airport continues to connect Damascus with a small but significant set of regional hubs.
My flight from Damascus
From DAM, I took one flight to Doha (DOH) with Qatar Airways:
- Route: Damascus (DAM) → Doha (DOH)
- Flight: QR411
- Aircraft: Airbus A330
- Registration: A7-AEF
The contrast was striking: departing an ancient city steeped in history and landing a few hours later in ultra-modern Doha. It felt like flying not just across geography, but across eras—an experience that made this flight particularly memorable.
Damascus may not be a major global aviation hub, but for travelers interested in history, geopolitics, and the deeper layers of the Middle East, DAM remains one of the most evocative departure points imaginable.