A Syrian woman who became a pilot after fleeing to the UK during the civil war has been offered a role at Syrian Airlines.
Capt Maya Ghazal, who works for TUI Airways, met the head of Syria's Civil Aviation Authority, Omar Hosari, and Minister for Disaster Management Raed Al Saleh in London on Tuesday, according to pictures shown online.
Mr Hosari gave his "full support" for the role of women in Syria's aviation sector, offering Capt Ghazal a position within the Syrian Airlines fleet as part of its development plans, according to a post that was shared on the pilot's Instagram feed on Thursday.
The meetings were part of Syrian President Ahmad Al Shara’s first visit to the UK, where he met King Charles III, Prime Minister Keir Starmer, British business leaders and members of the Syrian community.
Ms Ghazal left Damascus in 2014 and settled in the UK, aged 16, with her family after a 15-month journey through Beirut and Turkey. She studied aviation engineering and pilot studies at Brunel University, receiving her pilot's licence in 2020.
Last year, she became a co-pilot, flying Boeing 737s on European routes. She has been a goodwill ambassador for the UN’s refugee agency UNHCR.
Syria’s aviation industry is expected to develop following the fall of Bashar Al Assad's regime and an end to 13 years of civil war.
Mr Hosari announced an air transport deal with the German government on Wednesday, following Mr Al Shara's visit to Berlin earlier this week, according to state news agency Sana.
Flag carrier Syria Air was taken off the European sanctions list last year, and the government signed a $250 million deal to buy 10 Airbus A320 narrow-body planes.
Damascus will also establish a new low-cost carrier in a joint venture with Saudi Arabia, as part of a $2 billion investment package from Riyadh announced in February.
Plans to redevelop Damascus airport are backed by a $4 billion deal with the Qatari-led consortium UCC Holdings.
Mr Al Shara was in London and Berlin this week to drum up investment in Syria, and to encourage Syrians to return and become part of the country's recovery.
