Tehran International Airport Resumes Commercial Operations After Nearly Two Months of Wartime Closure

Commercial flights have started taking off again from Iran's largest airport after the closure order was lifted in late April. Iranian authorities announced the resumption of operations at Imam Khomeini International Airport following approximately 58 days of suspension since the US and Israel launched an airstrike campaign against Iran. The flight information boards had been inactive throughout the closure of Iranian airspace.

For weeks, the flight suspension stranded many passengers, disrupted businesses, and separated families. According to Al Jazeera, from April 25, air traffic gradually recovered with flights to 15 destinations operated by eight domestic airlines, including cities such as Medina, Istanbul, Muscat, and destinations in China and Russia. However, the current number of flights is only a fraction of pre-war levels.

One passenger, Maryam, who planned to fly to Toronto to see her daughters, told Al Jazeera: 'After a lot of stress and trouble, I finally found a ticket on an Iranian airline – flying to Armenia with a long layover, and then to Canada.' Before the war, the airport was bustling with an average of 150 flights a day. Now, the terminals that were once crowded with passengers and later fell silent are gradually filling up again.

Ramin Kashef Azar, CEO of the Imam Khomeini Airport City group, said that the return of foreign airlines – which had operated in Iran for years – 'will depend on political stability and their own risk assessment.' According to the Civil Aviation Organization of Iran, 20 aircraft were destroyed and are no longer operational. However, the airport infrastructure is largely undamaged and about 95% ready.

These developments come after Iran reopened its airspace in phases since April 19, in four steps: transit flights, domestic flights, and finally full operations at international airports, according to Iran's aviation authority. Foreign companies are cautious about resuming operations at Iranian airports amid ongoing political uncertainty and negotiations between Tehran and Washington.

Airports and infrastructure targeted

Iran's civil aviation industry suffered heavy damage from the war. More than 3,300 people were killed, thousands wounded, and widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure occurred. Mehrabad Airport, also in Tehran and primarily serving domestic flights, was repeatedly targeted by US-Israeli attacks. Before Imam Khomeini Airport was built in 2009, Mehrabad served as the capital's main international gateway.

In addition to the two Tehran airports, airports in Kashan, Tabriz, Ahvaz, Mashhad, Khoy, and Urmia were also attacked. Many civilian aircraft were damaged. This is not the first time Mehrabad Airport has been attacked. In June 2025, Israel was reported to have targeted the airport during a 12-day conflict, though Iranian authorities said the runways were unaffected.

The war's impact extended beyond airports, affecting many other businesses, causing revenue loss, layoffs, and operational disruptions. Mr. Babak, a tour guide, said he and many colleagues lost their jobs 'because there were no tours inbound or outbound, due to the flight suspension and the ongoing war.' Nowruz (Persian New Year), normally a peak aviation season in Iran, also saw many flight cancellations causing major disruptions. Mr. Bijan, a travel agent, said tours, charter flights, and hotel bookings were all affected. His company is processing refunds and had to reduce staff from 20 to just two.

The airports are gradually returning to life, with passengers beginning to return, signaling a fragile normality after weeks of silence. Each departing flight is a sign of reconnection with the world, though uncertainty remains on the ground.