Iran restarts commercial air travel from Tehrans international airport

Iran Resumes Commercial Flights After Two-Month Hiatus

Commercial air travel has resumed at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport for the first time since the United States and Israel launched a military operation against Iran two months ago. According to reports from state-run television, flights to Istanbul, Muscat, and Medina have departed from the airport on Saturday.

Iran Air, the country’s state-owned carrier, has also resumed operations with its inaugural flight from Tehran to Mashhad, after a 56-day hiatus. Additional flights are scheduled for Baku, Najaf, Baghdad, and Doha in the coming days.

Mohammad Amirani, CEO of the Iran Airports and Air Navigation Company, stated that domestic and transit flights on the eastern side of the country will be prioritized. Provincial airports, including Mashhad, Zahedan, Kerman, Yazd, and Birjand, are expected to serve as hubs for directing air traffic.

Iran’s state-run news service reported that consultations have been initiated with foreign airlines to clarify routes and re-attract transit flights amidst the fragile ceasefire with the US. Authorities also aim to re-establish commercial aviation in the region.

The resumption of commercial flights comes after weeks of disruptions caused by the conflict, which led to the shutdown of much of the Middle East’s airspace. Countries such as Qatar and the United Arab Emirates partially reopened their airspaces days after the attacks began on February 28. The ongoing blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has raised concerns about a potential jet fuel crisis, with the European Union considering imports from the US and implementing new minimum reserve quotas.

Source: Al Jazeera