Syrian Air Boeing 747
The history of Syrian Air--properly Syrian Arab Airlines--is as divisive and confused as the nation of Syria itself. Like most postwar airlines, Syrian Airways was formed in June 1947 with a few war surplus Douglas DC-3s obtained from Pan American Airways, which also provided technical support. This ended abruptly when Syria invaded Israel in 1948, starting the Israeli War of Independence, though Syrian Airways was able to obtain more DC-3s after the war ended.
Syrian Airways' operations from 1948 were chaotic, as various governments rose and fell in the country. In 1958, Syria unified with Egypt as the United Arab Republic, and the Egypt-based United Arab Airlines took over all international routes. When the UAR fell apart in 1961, Syrian Airways was split off from United Arab and reorganized as Syrian Arab Airlines, or simply Syrian Air. Though still a small airline, Syrian Air was able to enter the jet age by acquiring Sud-Aviation Caravelles.
As Syria began to gain a semblance of political stability (albeit under the dictatorship of Hafez Assad), Syrian Air's fortunes began to improve. It was able to increase its route network and buy more equipment, including Boeing 747s, extending Syrian Air as far west as London and as far east as Delhi. The Assad government's ties to the Soviet Union led to an increasing amount of Soviet equipment in Syrian Air's fleet. Syria's support for the Coalition in the First Gulf War restored good relations between it and the West, allowing Syrian Air to finally replace its ancient Caravelles in 1994 and begin retiring the Soviet-era equipment for newer Airbuses. It seemed that the airline was doing well.
When the Syrian Civil War began in 2011, the airline's fortunes fell apart with the country. Sanctions were placed on Syria, reducing Syrian Air's fleet to a mere six aircraft, but this was secondary, as Syria's airports became battlegrounds. The airline has been effectively grounded since 2013, and its prospects are very dim.
This early 747-100 shows Syrian Air's livery in the 1970s and early 1980s; the stylized eagle on a dark blue field was adopted in 1973. This is one of the largest airline models in Bary Poletto's collection, with a nearly four foot wingspan.
Syrian Air Boeing 747
The history of Syrian Air--properly Syrian Arab Airlines--is as divisive and confused as the nation of Syria itself. Like most postwar airlines, Syrian Airways was formed in June 1947 with a few war surplus Douglas DC-3s obtained from Pan American Airways, which also provided technical support. This ended abruptly when Syria invaded Israel in 1948, starting the Israeli War of Independence, though Syrian Airways was able to obtain more DC-3s after the war ended.
Syrian Airways' operations from 1948 were chaotic, as various governments rose and fell in the country. In 1958, Syria unified with Egypt as the United Arab Republic, and the Egypt-based United Arab Airlines took over all international routes. When the UAR fell apart in 1961, Syrian Airways was split off from United Arab and reorganized as Syrian Arab Airlines, or simply Syrian Air. Though still a small airline, Syrian Air was able to enter the jet age by acquiring Sud-Aviation Caravelles.
As Syria began to gain a semblance of political stability (albeit under the dictatorship of Hafez Assad), Syrian Air's fortunes began to improve. It was able to increase its route network and buy more equipment, including Boeing 747s, extending Syrian Air as far west as London and as far east as Delhi. The Assad government's ties to the Soviet Union led to an increasing amount of Soviet equipment in Syrian Air's fleet. Syria's support for the Coalition in the First Gulf War restored good relations between it and the West, allowing Syrian Air to finally replace its ancient Caravelles in 1994 and begin retiring the Soviet-era equipment for newer Airbuses. It seemed that the airline was doing well.
When the Syrian Civil War began in 2011, the airline's fortunes fell apart with the country. Sanctions were placed on Syria, reducing Syrian Air's fleet to a mere six aircraft, but this was secondary, as Syria's airports became battlegrounds. The airline has been effectively grounded since 2013, and its prospects are very dim.
This early 747-100 shows Syrian Air's livery in the 1970s and early 1980s; the stylized eagle on a dark blue field was adopted in 1973. This is one of the largest airline models in Bary Poletto's collection, with a nearly four foot wingspan.