Syrian Airlines (1970–1980)
With the beginning of the seventies, S.A.A.L continued its steady development by introducing flights to Moscow in 1970 and purchasing another two Super Caravelles from Sterling Airways in June 1971.[4] Frequencies were increased, and flights to Jeddah were resumed the same year while new flights were launched to Abu Dhabi, Benghazi and Budapest.[4] Flights were disrupted for several weeks during the 1973 Yom Kippur War.[14]
A new airport, the Damascus International Airport, was built 25 km south-east of the capital and was opened to traffic in 1973 to become S.A.A.L's modern hub, replacing the old Mezze structure inherited from the French mandate.[15]
A climate of confidence, pragmatism and political stability was nevertheless in sight in Syria after decades of volatile politics and coups d'état. Ambitious development programs were launched throughout the country.[16]
Syrian Arab Airlines was among the government's priorities as a new modernization and expansion program was launched. A new SAAL livery was introduced in 1973, featuring the airline's new logo, a mythical bird rising over a Mediterranean-blue disk.[4]
Closer economic and political ties with the Warsaw Pact countries led to the progressive buildup of a comprehensive network in Eastern Europe, with the addition of Bucharest–Otopeni, Prague–Ruzyně and Berlin–Schoenefeld.[4] More flights to North Africa were added in 1974 with the introduction of Tripoli, Tunis, Algiers and Casablanca. Sanaa was also added to the network in 1974.[4]
In parallel to that, SAAL was managing an increasing number of Soviet-built aircraft for the Syrian government and the Syrian Air Force. That fleet was gradually expanded to include two Antonov An-24s, six Antonov An-26s, six Yakovlev Yak-40s and four Ilyushin Il-76 freighters (2Il-76Ts, 2 Il76Ms), in addition to two French-built Dassault Mystere Falcon 20Fs and one Dassault Falcon 900.[4]
These aircraft were not used by the airline for scheduled services except for some of the Yak-40s which replaced the Douglas DC-6B and the Caravelles on domestic routes by the early eighties. In 1974, two Boeing 707s were leased in from British Airtours to complement the Caravelle fleet.[4] That year, the airline carried 279,866 passengers.
A fleet renewal program was launched in 1975 as SAAL ordered three brand-new Boeing 727-294s and two Boeing 747SPs.[4] Awaiting the delivery of its new planes, the airline leased Boeing 707s to improve its service offer. In all, two Boeing 707-420s and six Boeing 707-320s were leased in (respectively from British Airtours and British Midland Airways) at various times between 1974 and 1976 and were used to reinforce frequencies and add new destinations to the network.[4]
The SyrianAir styling was officially adopted on November 11, 1975, in anticipation of the delivery of the new Boeing fleet and to generate a more modern and international image. However, SyrianAir's official and legal title continued to be Syrian Arab Airlines.[4]
The Boeing 727s supplemented the Caravelles throughout the network, while the Boeing 747SPs were used on high-load international routes (Munich, Paris, London, the Persian Gulf region, Karachi and Delhi).[4] Demand was particularly high on these routes in 1976, especially following the repeated closures of the Beirut International Airport, and the increasing number of passengers using Damascus International Airport for travel to and from neighboring and war-stricken Lebanon. A record 480,000 passengers were carried by the airline in 1976.
The two jumbo jets were ordered in 1976 to operate transatlantic services to New York City. SyrianAir and the Royal Jordanian Airlines were to join forces in launching the first transatlantic route ever operated by an Arab Middle Eastern airline. The joint flight agreement never really materialized, and Alia launched independently its own Amman-New York flights in 1977. SyrianAir started its Boeing 747SP operations on June 1, 1976, using the jumbo jet on the Damascus-Munich-London sector.[4]
During the seventies, Syrianair managed to acquire a modern fleet, revamp its image and operate a profitable passenger network on three continents largely satisfying the needs of the Syrian market. Its fares were accessible and attracted budget travellers flying between Europe and South Asia. The climate of stability and economic prosperity in Syria had a determining influence on the positive results of the airline. The eighties brought about new challenges to both, Syria and its airline.
