Aleppo, Sept. 11 (SANA) Development work at the existing Aleppo International Airport will begin in early 2027, with the project expected to raise annual passenger capacity to more than 2 million as Syria moves ahead with a broader Saudi-backed plan to modernize the airport and build a new international facility.
The Syrian General Authority of Civil Aviation and Air Transport said Friday that the upgrade would improve the existing airport’s operational efficiency, technical capabilities and passenger services while preparations continue for the new Aleppo International Airport.
Field surveys and preliminary technical studies are already underway to determine the requirements for the upgrade in line with international standards, the authority said.
The announcement follows meetings in Jeddah from Sept. 7 to 10 between a Syrian civil aviation delegation headed by authority chief Omar Hosari and representatives of Saudi Arabia’s Elaf Investment Fund, led by Bin Dawood Investment Group. Syria’s acting chargé d’affaires in Saudi Arabia, Mohsen Mahbash, joined the talks on Sept. 9 and 10.
The two sides agreed on a timetable, priorities and implementation steps for work to begin in early 2027. Discussions also covered expanding Aleppo’s role in passenger and cargo traffic and supporting industrial and commercial activity in northern Syria.
The agreement between the Syrian aviation authority and Elaf Investment Fund covers the development and operation of the existing airport as well as construction of a new international facility. Earlier project information indicates the new airport will be developed in stages, with initial capacity of about 6 million passengers annually, eventually rising to 12 million.
The agreement also includes financing for an integrated navigation radar system covering Syrian airspace, according to information released when the Saudi-Syrian investment agreements were signed in February.
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