Cham Wings Airlines
Cham Wings Airlines was a privately owned Syrian airline that operated charter and scheduled services from Damascus before its assets were acquired and rebranded as Fly Cham in 2025.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Cham Wings Airlines was a privately owned Syrian passenger airline founded in 2006 by businessman Issam Shammout. Based at Damascus International Airport, it became the first private airline established in Syria and initially operated under a restricted aircraft operator certificate that permitted non-scheduled charter flights. Its first recorded service was a Damascus–Baghdad flight in March 2008 using a leased McDonnell Douglas aircraft. The company struggled to build a profitable network while its certificate limited it primarily to charter operations, and it suspended operations in 2012 amid the continuing unrest and conflict in Syria. The airline received approval for scheduled services in 2014, becoming Syria’s second national carrier after Syrian Air. It resumed flying with routes linking Damascus to regional destinations including Beirut, Kuwait, Baghdad and Qamishli, later expanding its network across the Middle East, North Africa, Central Asia and Eastern Europe. At the end of its existence, its published network included domestic flights to Aleppo and Qamishli and international services to destinations such as Abu Dhabi, Baghdad, Basra, Beirut, Benghazi, Erbil, Kuwait City, Muscat, Najaf, Sharjah, Tehran, Yerevan and Moscow. Cham Wings’ development was closely connected to Syria’s political and economic environment. The United States sanctioned the airline in 2016 for alleged support for the Syrian government. The company later became involved in controversies concerning its role in transporting Syrian nationals, alleged movement of mercenaries and weapons, and suspected trafficking of Captagon. It also faced scrutiny over flights associated with the Belarus–European Union border crisis. In November 2021, Cham Wings suspended its Damascus–Minsk service, saying it could not reliably distinguish ordinary passengers from people attempting irregular migration. The European Union imposed sanctions in December 2021, and Switzerland followed with related measures. The European Union later removed those specific sanctions in July 2022, although the airline continued to face other restrictions and political criticism. The carrier also remained active on Russian routes despite sanctions and the wider effects of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Its continued Damascus–Moscow service made it an example of the limited but persistent international connectivity maintained by some Syrian aviation operators under sanctions and wartime conditions. In 2025, after the ousting of Bashar al-Assad, the airline briefly resumed service on 7 January. The company’s ownership and corporate structure then changed during a settlement involving Issam Shammout and the new Syrian state authorities. Shammout relinquished his stake, paid $50 million and transferred two Airbus A320 aircraft to Syrian Air in exchange for immunity from state prosecution, according to the referenced account. On 5 June 2025, the remaining assets of Cham Wings Airlines, including three Airbus A320 aircraft, were acquired by a Syrian-Emirati joint venture involving Rawdat Al Reef Project Services LLC and Rawdat Al Reef Project Management Services LLC. Following regulatory approval, the purchasers launched a successor airline under the name Fly Cham. Many Cham Wings employees, pilots and cabin crew reportedly continued in comparable roles at the successor. Cham Wings therefore ceased to exist as an operating brand after the asset transaction and rebranding.
History
Cham Wings Airlines was founded on 9 July 2006 by Syrian businessman Issam Shammout as the first private airline in Syria. Its main operating base was Damascus International Airport. The Syrian Civil Aviation Authority issued the company an aircraft operator certificate on 23 September 2007, but the initial authorization allowed only non-scheduled charter operations. Cham Wings leased an aircraft and operated its first flight from Damascus to Baghdad International Airport on 3 March 2008. The airline faced a difficult commercial environment in its first years. Scheduled services were favored by the regulatory framework, while Cham Wings was restricted largely to charter flying. A proposed competing carrier, Syrian Pearl Airlines, had links to Syrian Air and Cham Holding but did not begin operations. Cham Wings itself was unable to achieve profitability through its early charter model and stopped operating in 2012 during the period of unrest and conflict in Syria. In 2014, Cham Wings secured approval to operate scheduled passenger flights and restarted as Syria’s second national carrier after Syrian Air. Its early scheduled network included Beirut, Kuwait, Baghdad and Qamishli. The carrier subsequently expanded its regional presence and maintained routes from Damascus to cities in the Middle East, North Africa, Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Its network at closure included domestic destinations in Aleppo and Qamishli, together with international destinations such as Abu Dhabi, Basra, Benghazi, Erbil, Muscat, Najaf, Sharjah, Tehran, Yerevan and Moscow. Political restrictions became a defining feature of the airline’s later history. The United States designated Cham Wings in 2016 for alleged support of the Syrian government. The company was also criticized over alleged involvement in transporting Syrian mercenaries to Libya, moving weapons and trafficking Captagon. In 2018, its advertising of flights between Munich and Damascus involving Syrian refugees drew criticism because travel to Syria could affect asylum protection in Germany. Ukraine blacklisted the carrier in 2021 in connection with flights to Crimea. The airline became especially prominent during the Belarus–European Union border crisis. Cham Wings ended its Damascus–Minsk flights in November 2021, explaining that it could not determine whether passengers were regular travelers or people seeking to cross borders irregularly. The European Union nevertheless sanctioned the carrier in December 2021, alleging that it transported migrants toward the Belarus–Poland border. Switzerland introduced corresponding measures on 20 December 2021. The European Union lifted the sanctions related to that episode on 19 July 2022. Cham Wings continued to operate despite United States and European restrictions and retained services to Russia, including flights between Damascus and Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport. Following the fall of the Assad government, the airline resumed service on 7 January 2025. Its corporate existence then ended through a settlement and asset transfer. Issam Shammout relinquished his ownership interest, paid $50 million and transferred two Airbus A320 aircraft to Syrian Air in return for immunity from state prosecution, as described in the referenced material. The remaining assets, including three additional A320s, were purchased on 5 June 2025 by a Syrian-Emirati joint venture comprising Rawdat Al Reef Project Services LLC and Rawdat Al Reef Project Management Services LLC. After regulatory approval, the buyers rebranded the operation as Fly Cham. Many former Cham Wings pilots, cabin crew and other employees continued with the successor airline.
- 2025
Operations resumed briefly
[1]The airline resumed service on 7 January after the ousting of Bashar al-Assad.
- 2025
Assets acquired and brand replaced
[1]A Syrian-Emirati joint venture acquired the remaining Cham Wings assets on 5 June and later launched Fly Cham.
- 2022
EU sanctions lifted
[1]The European Union removed the sanctions connected specifically with the Belarus border crisis on 19 July.
- 2021
Belarus route suspended and European sanctions imposed
[1]Cham Wings suspended Damascus–Minsk flights in November; the European Union imposed sanctions the following month over alleged migrant transport.
- 2016
United States sanctions
[1]The United States sanctioned the airline for alleged support for the Syrian government.
- 2014
Scheduled services authorized
[1]Cham Wings received approval for scheduled flights and restarted as Syria’s second national carrier.
- 2012
Operations suspended
[1]Cham Wings ceased operations after struggling to make its charter-focused model profitable amid the Syrian conflict.
- 2008
First flight
[1]The airline began flying on 3 March with a Damascus–Baghdad service using a leased aircraft.
- 2007
Aircraft operator certificate issued
[1]The Syrian Civil Aviation Authority issued Cham Wings an operator certificate on 23 September, initially permitting non-scheduled charter operations.
- 2006
Company founded
[1]Issam Shammout established Cham Wings Airlines on 9 July as Syria’s first private airline.
Products and positioning
A privately owned Syrian carrier positioned around affordable regional and international connectivity from Damascus, initially through charter operations and later through scheduled passenger services.
Passenger airline · 2014
Scheduled passenger services
After receiving scheduled-service approval in 2014, Cham Wings operated passenger flights from its Damascus hub to destinations across the Middle East, North Africa, Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Its network included Beirut, Baghdad, Kuwait City, Tehran, destinations in the United Arab Emirates, Yerevan and Moscow, alongside domestic Syrian services.
Charter aviation · 2008
Charter flights
Cham Wings began as a charter-focused airline under its initial operator certificate. The certificate issued in 2007 authorized non-scheduled operations, and the carrier’s first service was a charter-era Damascus–Baghdad flight in 2008. The model was later superseded by scheduled passenger operations.
Controversies
2025
Allegations concerning mercenaries, weapons and Captagon
The airline and its owner were described as subject to United States and European sanctions and allegations involving the transport of mercenaries to Libya, weapons movement and Captagon trafficking.
2021
Alleged role in Belarus border migration
The European Union accused Cham Wings of transporting migrants toward the Belarus–Poland border during the 2021 border crisis. Related EU sanctions were imposed in December 2021 and later lifted in July 2022.
2021
Crimea flight controversy
Ukraine blacklisted Cham Wings in connection with flights to Crimea.
2016
United States sanctions over alleged government support
The United States sanctioned Cham Wings for alleged support of the Syrian government.
Marketing campaigns
- 2018Munich–Damascus refugee travel promotion
Germany · Syria
Cham Wings advertised flights between Munich and Damascus for Syrian refugees in Germany. The promotion attracted criticism because returning to Syria could affect an individual’s asylum status.
Outcome. The promotion became a subject of public criticism and scrutiny.
Brand decisions
2025
Settlement, asset transfer and rebrandingM&ABackground
Following the change in Syria’s political order, the company’s owner entered into a settlement with the new state authorities.
Action taken
Issam Shammout relinquished his share, paid $50 million and transferred two Airbus A320s to Syrian Air. A Syrian-Emirati joint venture then purchased the remaining assets on 5 June and established Fly Cham.
Aftermath
Cham Wings ceased as an operating brand, while three remaining A320s and much of the workforce moved into the successor operation.
Settlement payment. $50 million (2025)
2021
Suspension of Damascus–Minsk serviceStrategyBackground
The route operated during the Belarus–European Union border crisis, when Syrian travelers were among those attempting to reach the EU through Belarus.
Action taken
Cham Wings terminated the route at short notice, saying it could not distinguish ordinary travelers from irregular migrants.
Aftermath
The European Union nevertheless sanctioned the airline over alleged migrant transport; those specific sanctions were lifted in 2022.
2014
Shift from charter to scheduled operationsStrategyBackground
Cham Wings had struggled under an operator certificate limited primarily to non-scheduled charter flights.
Action taken
The airline obtained approval to operate scheduled services and restarted as Syria’s second national carrier.
Aftermath
It developed a Damascus-centered regional and international passenger network.
Sources1 sources
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