Iran has resumed flights to several international destinations, including Beijing, Istanbul and Muscat, after restoring part of its airspace following weeks of disruption caused by its conflict with the United States and Israel.
Ramin Kashef Azar, chief executive of Tehran’s Imam Khomeini Airport City, said international passenger flights were authorized to restart after a ceasefire allowed authorities to gradually reopen operations.
Round-trip services to Istanbul and Muscat were among the first routes restored, and flights to Medina in Saudi Arabia also resumed over the weekend. Iranian authorities said approvals for additional domestic and international routes will be granted gradually.
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Iran Air had already restarted domestic passenger operations earlier this week, initially restoring flights between Tehran and Mashhad. The flag carrier has since resumed services to Najaf, Istanbul and Medina and is expected to add flights to Baku, Doha and Baghdad in the coming days.
The airline has also scheduled three weekly flights between Tehran and Najaf to meet demand from religious travelers heading to Iraqi pilgrimage sites.
At Tehran’s Mehrabad Airport, domestic flights have resumed to cities including Mashhad, Shiraz, Urmia and Zahedan, alongside inbound services from several regional destinations. Airlines operating these routes include Iran Air, Mahan Air, Kish Air, Karun Airlines, Taban and Sepehran Airlines.
Iranian officials said both Imam Khomeini International Airport and Mehrabad Airport suffered damage during U.S. and Israeli airstrikes that began on February 28, affecting terminals, runways and aircraft parked on the ground. Cargo flights continued operating during the conflict.
Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization said airlines are progressively restoring operations now that infrastructure and navigation systems are fully operational.
The flight resumptions come amid continued diplomatic contacts between Tehran and Washington, although plans for another round of negotiations remain uncertain.
