Tehran Airports Resume Flights After 50-day Closure

Iran has begun gradually resuming domestic and international flights at Mehrabad Airport and Imam Khomeini International Airport following the reopening of its airspace after nearly 50 days of suspensions.

Both airports had been heavily damaged during U.S.and Israeli bombings that started on February 28 this year. From terminals to runways to several aircraft on ground suffered major damage cutting off Iran from the outside world.

This afternoon, Iraqi airport staff welcomed an Iran Air aircraft with the traditional water welcome as it resumed flights after 50 days. Staff at Najaf International Airport in Iraq handed over flowers to passengers and crew and hugged them warmly after they disembarked from the aircraft.

In addition, Iran has resumed flights to key international destinations, including Beijing, Istanbul, and Muscat, the CEO of Imam Khomeini Airport City announced.

According to ISNA news agency, the country’s Civil Aviation Organization has issued permits allowing airlines to restart operations, with domestic carriers progressively reinstating routes and adding new destinations.

The national carrier, Iran Air, has resumed scheduled services to several destinations, including Mashhad, Medina, Istanbul and Najaf. The airline is also expected to launch additional flights in the coming days to Baku, Doha and Baghdad.

In response to demand for travel to Iraqi pilgrimage sites, Iran Air has scheduled three weekly flights from Tehran to Najaf. The service operates on Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays, departing from Imam Khomeini International Airport.

Other domestic airlines have also restarted services, including flights to Muscat, while Iran Airtour is preparing to resume its scheduled route between Urmia and Tehran.

At Mehrabad Airport, outbound flights have resumed to cities such as Mashhad, Shiraz, Urmia and Zahedan, along with inbound services from Mashhad, Zahedan, Birjand, Kerman, Shiraz and Urmia. Several carriers, including Iran Air, Taban, Sepehran Airlines, Iran Airtour, Saha, Mahan, Kish Air and Karun Airlines, are operating these routes as well.