Damascus [Syria], December 19: A domestic flight took off from the airport in Damascus on Wednesday, marking the facility's operation for the first time since the overthrow of long-time Syrian president Bashar al-Assad more than a week ago.
A commercial plane operated by the national carrier Syrian Air left the airport heading for Syria's northern city of Aleppo, according to an eyewitness.
Officials at the Damascus airport said its reopening is partial as the facility suffered vandalism and thefts following al-Assad's ouster. "Today [Wednesday] we return to work at the airport with a test flight to Aleppo after the airport returned partially as a result of sabotage and the theft of technical equipment and computers," Saad Khair, an airport official, told DPA.
He hoped that the facility would return to full operation in 10 days. "All the computers and screens that guide aircraft landings and departures were stolen," Alfy Mohammed, a technician at the airport, said.
Source: Qatar Tribune
