DAMASCUS, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Syria's newly established airline Fly Sham launched its inaugural commercial flight Wednesday from Damascus International Airport to Abu Dhabi, marking the first phase of what officials describe as a major expansion in air travel connectivity, according to the state news agency SANA.

Fly Sham, a Syrian-registered carrier backed by Emirati investment, currently operates four aircraft, with plans to grow its fleet to 15 by the end of the year, according to the airline's commercial director, Hamdi Khalaf.

"This is the first Emirati investment to move from planning to actual implementation in Syria," SANA quoted Khalaf as saying. "We're a supportive partner to the national airline and aim to provide a reliable alternative."

In addition to Abu Dhabi, the airline also launched a flight to Sharjah on its first day of operations. Khalaf said plans are underway to expand routes to Saudi Arabian and European cities in the near future.

The launch of the commercial flights comes amid growing demand for air travel to and from Syria, officials say.