Syria launches its new airline Syrian Pearl Airways (SPA) this month

More details are emerging around the launch of Syrian Pearl Airways (SPA) which is due to begin operations this month following the arrival of two BAE 146-300 aircraft leased from Spanish charter carrier Orion Air.

“In the first stage, which might last around three months, we will focus on domestic routes,” says SPA chairman Dr. Abdul Rahman Attar. “However, we are working on expanding to destinations in neighbouring countries lying within short and medium ranges.”

According to Damascus newspaper, Syria Today, SPA will start with three flights a day each to Aleppo and Deir ez-Zor and two flights a day to Qamishle and Lattakia. Potential regional destinations include Beirut, Kuwait, Baghdad, Mosul, Turkey, Cyprus and Yerevan in Armenia, via the three international airports of Damascus, Aleppo and Qamishle.

“Aleppo is a business hub and Deir ez-Zor has many oil and gas companies operating, so both should see a lot of traffic from business people,” says Attar. “Qamishle borders Iraq and could be an important traffic point for Iraqi refugees. Meanwhile, Lattakia’s route will serve the coastal region and carry tourists. SPA will take over the services of Syrianair, which will stop flying to these routes, although ground services will still be provided by Syrianair.”

Syrianair, the state-owned national carrier, is under US sanctions which have prevented it from renewing and expanding an ageing fleet. “We will act as a second national carrier, which will complement Syrianair,” says Attar. “However, in the foreseeable future, we will not be considering any long-range international routes.”

SPA is a venture by Cham Holding whose minority partners include Syrianair (25 percent), Aqeeq Aviation and several individual investors. It is the first company to be licensed as a private airliner running scheduled flights in Syria, although Cham Wings, another company, already operates charter flights.

SPA is managed by its newly appointed Norwegian CEO Vin Thawlo, who previously was part of the management team at SAS Scandinavian Airlines.