flynas Returns to Aleppo With New Riyadh Flights From August 2026
flynas will expand its Syrian network on August 1, 2026, by launching nonstop service between King Khalid International Airport (RUH) in Riyadh and Aleppo International Airport (ALP).
The Saudi low-cost carrier will operate the route twice weekly with an Airbus A320neo. The new flights will run every Wednesday and Saturday, restoring flynas service to a Syrian city that the airline served before suspending its earlier operations in the country.
The airline announced the Riyadh–Aleppo route on July 10, while the detailed schedule was subsequently reflected in its reservation system.
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Riyadh–Aleppo Flight Schedule
Flights will operate under the following schedule, with all times local:
XY229: King Khalid International Airport (RUH) 11:55 a.m. – Aleppo International Airport (ALP) 2:25 p.m. on Wednesdays
XY229: King Khalid International Airport (RUH) 12:00 p.m. – Aleppo International Airport (ALP) 2:30 p.m. on Saturdays
XY230: Aleppo International Airport (ALP) 3:30 p.m. – King Khalid International Airport (RUH) 6:10 p.m. on Wednesdays and Saturdays
Riyadh and Aleppo are in the same time zone, giving the outbound flight a scheduled block time of two hours and 30 minutes. The return is scheduled for two hours and 40 minutes.
The aircraft will spend approximately one hour on the ground at Aleppo International Airport (ALP) before beginning the return flight to King Khalid International Airport (RUH).
The nonstop route covers approximately 956 miles, or 831 nautical miles. That makes it a relatively short regional mission for the Airbus A320neo, allowing flynas to operate the service without placing meaningful range limitations on the aircraft.
Airbus A320neo Will Operate the Route
flynas will assign an Airbus A320neo to the new Riyadh–Aleppo service. The aircraft has become the backbone of the airline’s short- and medium-haul fleet and is used extensively across its domestic and international network.
Airbus lists a maximum range of approximately 3,400 nautical miles for the A320neo, far beyond what is required for the flight between King Khalid International Airport (RUH) and Aleppo International Airport (ALP).
The A320neo combines new-generation engines with aerodynamic improvements, including Sharklet wingtip devices. Airbus says the type can deliver up to 20% lower fuel consumption and carbon emissions per seat compared with previous-generation narrowbody aircraft. Its maximum certified seating capacity is 194 passengers, although individual airline configurations typically contain fewer seats.
The aircraft is particularly well suited to a developing route such as Riyadh–Aleppo. It offers enough capacity to accommodate visiting-friends-and-relatives traffic while allowing flynas to maintain a modest twice-weekly schedule as the airline evaluates demand.
As of July 2026, flynas operated 61 Airbus A320neos, along with four older A320ceos and two Airbus A330-300 widebody aircraft. The airline also recently increased its commitments to Airbus by ordering another 20 A321neos and five A330-900s.
Aleppo Becomes flynas’ Second Destination in Syria
The addition of Aleppo International Airport (ALP) expands flynas’ scheduled Syrian network beyond Damascus International Airport (DAM).
flynas resumed service to Damascus International Airport (DAM) on June 5, 2025, becoming the first Saudi airline to restore scheduled flights to the Syrian capital. The airline has since expanded its Damascus operation from King Khalid International Airport (RUH), King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED) in Jeddah, and King Fahd International Airport (DMM) in Dammam.
In February 2026, flynas said it was operating 23 weekly flights to Damascus International Airport (DAM), including twice-daily service from King Khalid International Airport (RUH), daily flights from King Abdulaziz International Airport (JED), and two weekly flights from King Fahd International Airport (DMM).
The carrier also noted that it had previously served Damascus, Aleppo, and Latakia before suspending its Syrian operations. The August launch therefore represents a return to Aleppo rather than flynas’ first entry into the market.
Adding Aleppo International Airport (ALP) gives flynas access to northern Syria and reduces the need for travelers in the region to make the long ground journey to Damascus International Airport (DAM). The route is likely to rely heavily on passengers traveling to visit relatives, conduct business, or connect with Syrian communities living and working in Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia Strengthens Its Aviation Links With Syria
The new service is part of a much broader expansion of aviation ties between Saudi Arabia and Syria.
In February 2026, flynas signed an agreement with the Syrian General Authority of Civil Aviation and Air Transport to establish a new airline called flynas Syria.
The planned joint venture will be 51% owned by the Syrian authority and 49% by flynas. Operations are scheduled to begin during the fourth quarter of 2026, subject to the completion of licensing and regulatory procedures.
flynas Syria is expected to operate routes connecting Syria with destinations across the Middle East, Africa, and Europe. The project will be separate from the Saudi carrier’s own flights to Damascus International Airport (DAM) and Aleppo International Airport (ALP), although flynas’ existing Syrian services could help establish traffic flows and brand recognition before the new airline begins operating.
Saudi investors are also backing a major airport development program in Aleppo. Announced alongside the flynas Syria partnership, the project is intended to expand the city’s aviation infrastructure and eventually provide capacity for as many as 12 million passengers annually.
Bottom Line
flynas will begin twice-weekly Airbus A320neo service between King Khalid International Airport (RUH) and Aleppo International Airport (ALP) on August 1, 2026.
Flights will operate every Wednesday and Saturday, with an afternoon arrival in Aleppo and an approximately one-hour turnaround before the return to Riyadh.
The route restores flynas service to Aleppo and makes the northern Syrian city the airline’s second destination in the country after Damascus International Airport (DAM). It also comes ahead of the planned fourth-quarter launch of flynas Syria, highlighting the Saudi airline group’s growing commitment to rebuilding air connectivity between Syria and the wider region.
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