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Al Jazeera English1 min read
Iran resumes commercial flights from Tehran airport
TL;DR
Iran has resumed commercial flights from Tehran's Imam Khomeini International Airport after a 56-day hiatus due to attacks from the US and Israel. Flights to Istanbul, Muscat, and Medina have already commenced, with more destinations planned soon.
Key points
- Iran resumes commercial flights after 56-day hiatus
- Flights to Istanbul, Muscat, and Medina have started
- Iran Air operated the inaugural flight to Mashhad
- More flights planned to Baku, Najaf, Baghdad, and Doha
- Eastern airports prioritized for domestic and transit flights
Mentioned in this story
TehranIstanbulMuscatMedinaIran AirMashhadBakuNajafBaghdadDohaTurkmenistanAfghanistanPakistan
Iran has resumed commercial flights from the capital Tehran’s international airport for the first time since the United States and Israel attacked the country two months ago.
Iran’s state-run television reported that flights for Istanbul, Muscat and the Saudi Arabian city of Medina took off from Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport on Saturday.
Iran’s state-owned carrier, Iran Air, operated its inaugural flight from Tehran to the second-largest city of Mashhad after a 56-day hiatus, state-run IRNA news service said in a series of Telegram posts, adding that more flights are scheduled for Baku, Najaf, Baghdad and Doha in the coming days.
Mohammad Amirani, CEO of the Iran Airports and Air Navigation Company, said the country’s eastern side – which borders Turkmenistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan – will be prioritised for domestic and transit flights.
Provincial airports, including Mashhad, Zahedan, Kerman, Yazd and Birjand, are slated to become nodes for directing air traffic, IRNA said. Authorities said they had started consultations with foreign airlines to clarify routes and to re-attract transit flights as a fragile ceasefire with the US continues, while efforts for more talks between Tehran and Washington continue in Pakistan.
The US-Israel war on Iran roiled international air travel for weeks, forcing much of the Middle East’s airspace to shut down and leaving tens of thousands of travellers scrambling to return home.
Even as dozens of countries organised chartered flights to repatriate their citizens, their efforts were stymied by the near-shutdown of commercial aviation in one of the world’s busiest regions for air travel.
Countries including Qatar and the United Arab Emirates partially reopened their airspaces days after attacks began on February 28, with schedules further expanding in the weeks that followed.
The ongoing blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, meanwhile, has triggered the prospect of a mounting jet fuel crisis. The European Union is considering jet fuel imports from the US, alongside new minimum reserve quotas, amid a pending supply crunch.
Q&A
What cities are included in the resumed flights from Tehran?
The resumed flights from Tehran include destinations such as Istanbul, Muscat, and Medina, with plans for additional routes to Baku, Najaf, Baghdad, and Doha.
Why were flights suspended from Tehran's airport?
Flights were suspended from Tehran's airport due to attacks from the United States and Israel, leading to a 56-day hiatus in commercial air travel.
What is the significance of the resumed flights for Iran?
The resumption of flights is significant for Iran as it aims to re-establish international air travel and attract foreign airlines amid ongoing fragile ceasefire discussions with the US.
