"This is the first time I came through this airport since 2005 and felt proud to be Syrian," said Bashar al-Hussein, reflecting on his emotions after traveling from Dubai for the first direct flight into Damascus in 13 years.
"The airport reopening was about more than travel," he continued, highlighting the change in atmosphere: passengers no longer felt under surveillance and staff refused to take bribes.
Despite the festive mood, some attendees recalled the harsh realities of life under the previous regime, revealing that passengers learned of previous charges only at passport control.
"From the airport to the last door, you'd end up paying about $200," he added, pointing to the corruption that had marred the travel experience before the regime changes.
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