Commercial flights from Tehran’s main airport resume amid cautious normalcy

Commercial flights are now leaving Iran's largest airport, Imam Khomeini International Airport. This follows its reopening last week.

Iranian authorities announced that flights resumed after about 58 days. Flights had been suspended since the US-Israel war on Iran began. During this time, flight information boards were also offline.

For weeks, the flight suspension caused problems for many travelers. Businesses were disrupted, and families were separated.

Flights Slowly Return

Air traffic began to gradually return on April 25. Flights to 15 destinations are now running, operated by eight Iranian airlines. These flights go to regional and international places like Medina, Istanbul, Muscat, China, and Russia. However, the number of flights is much lower than before the war.

Maryam, a passenger, shared her experience. She wanted to go to Toronto to see her daughters. She said, "After a lot of stress and problems, now I’ve found a ticket with an Iranian airline — flying first to Armenia with a long layover, and then on to Canada.”

Before the war, the airport was very busy, with about 150 flights daily. Now, the terminals, which were once full and then empty, are slowly filling up again.

Ramin Kashef Azar, CEO of Imam Khomeini Airport City, noted that foreign airlines might return. He said this "will depend on political stability and their own risk assessments." The Iranian Civil Aviation Organization reported that 20 aircraft were destroyed and cannot be used. However, the airport itself was not damaged and is about 95% ready.

Iran's airspace began reopening in four stages from April 19. This started with transit flights, then domestic flights, and finally, all international airport operations resumed.

Foreign companies are still hesitant to operate in Iranian airports. This is due to uncertainty in the political talks between Tehran and Washington.

Airports Targeted in Conflict

Iran's civil aviation has been affected by the war. More than 3,300 people have died in Iran, and thousands were injured. Civilian buildings and infrastructure also suffered widespread damage.

Mehrabad Airport, also in Tehran, was attacked several times by US-Israel forces. This airport mainly handles domestic flights. It was Tehran's main airport for both international and domestic flights before Imam Khomeini Airport opened in 2009.

Besides Mehrabad, airports in Kashan, Tabriz, Ahvaz, Mashhad, Khoy, and Urmia were also targeted. Several civilian aircraft were damaged.

Mehrabad Airport has been attacked before. In June 2025, Israel reportedly targeted it during a 12-day war. However, Iranian authorities stated that the airport and its runways were not damaged then.

The war's impact goes beyond airports. It has hurt other businesses, leading to lost income, job cuts, and operational problems.

Babak, a tour guide, said he and many colleagues lost their jobs. This happened "because there were no incoming or outgoing tours, as flights were suspended and the war was ongoing.”

Nowruz, the Persian New Year, is usually a busy time for Iranian airports. However, this year it saw flight suspensions and major disruptions. Bijan, a travel agent, said this affected tours, charter flights, and hotel bookings. His company is processing refunds and had to reduce staff from 20 to two.

Airports are now becoming active again, and passengers are returning. This suggests a fragile return to normalcy after weeks of quiet. Each flight departure shows a renewed connection with the world, even as uncertainty continues on the ground.