11/02/12, 01:37:18 EST

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

canadianpress.google.com

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.

 Printable Version  | published Oct 08, 2007