Royal Jordanian Airlines to resume service to Syria after 9 years

Sept. 28 (UPI) -- The Royal Jordanian Airlines will resume flights to Syria after nearly a decade.

Jordan's national airline made the announcement on Tuesday that it would fly to the war-torn country starting Oct. 3. The nation said on Monday that it would fully reopen Jaber -- the main crossing between Jordan and Syria -- on Tuesday.

Ministers from both countries met in Amman for two days. Resuming flight service between the countries is one of several moves aimed at restoring relations.

The ministers also agreed to cooperate in the energy, water and agricultural sectors.

The nations will increase commercial trading, reinstate a joint water committee regulating the Yarmouk water basin, and reactivate an electrical line to help the damaged electrical infrastructure in Syria. They also discussed transporting gas and electricity to crisis-stricken Lebanon.

Civil unrest in Syria almost a decade ago resulted in closed flight operations. Though fighting has settled down, there is still an absence of a political settlement.