Venezuela’s state airline launches weekly flights to Iran via Syria

Canadian Press: Venezuela’s state airline Conviasa launched flights to Iran via Syria on Sunday with the aim of strengthening commercial relations among the three anti-American states. The Canadian Press

DAMASCUS, Syria – Venezuela’s state airline Conviasa launched flights to Iran via Syria on Sunday with the aim of strengthening commercial relations among the three anti-American states.

The Airbus 330-200 landed at 13:15 local time with an official delegation on board announcing the inauguration of the route connecting Caracas with Tehran.

Officials said Conviasa will initially operate just one flight a week but hopes to eventually double that number.

In March, Iran’s national carrier launched flights to Venezuela, also through Damascus, in what a Syrian official said was a move to do away with all the “harassment” that Muslim travellers allegedly encounter in a post-Sept. 11 world.

The route opening also reflects increasing ties among the three states, who share an animosity for the U.S. government.

Nashat Numair, head of state-run Syrian Airlines told country’s official news agency SANA that the route “is an important step toward starting commercial, cultural and tourist communication” between Syria and Venezuela.