The number of foreign flights passing through Iran’s airspace has hit a record.
A total of 15,055 foreign aircraft flew over Iran's airspace during the current fiscal year’s seventh month (Sept. 23-Oct. 22), marking the highest traffic recorded over the past one and a half years (18 months), Mehr News Agency reported.
The figure stood at 11,094 during the same period of the year before.
Data released by Iran Airports Company show a total of 80,994 foreign flights flew over Iran's airspace during the first seven months of the current Iranian year (March 21-Oct. 22).
The figure stood at 52,119 in the corresponding period of last year.
The record comes as the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has ended an advisory that had warned commercial planes against crossing Iran’s airspace for “safety reasons”, Siavosh Amirmokri, the head of the Civil Aviation Organization (CAO) of Iran, said on Oct. 30.
To remove the nearly two-year restriction, CAO and Iran Airports Company had engaged in negotiations with European airlines, the region’s aviation authorities as well as EASA, he added.
EASA started warning against Iran overflights in January 2020 after the country came close to a confrontation with the United States following a drone strike by the US military that killed a top Iranian general in neighboring Iraq. The notice was issued after Iran fired missiles against US forces stationed in Iraq.
EASA’s measure, which had applied to flights below an altitude of 25,000 feet, was extended in July this year, Iranian state media reported.
Domestic Airport Traffic Recovering From Pandemic
Domestic passenger traffic in Iranian airports registered a year-on-year growth of 6% during the seven months to Oct. 22, as 14.44 million passengers were flown internally by Iranian airlines during the period.
IAC data also show takeoffs and landings posted a 29% YOY growth to 182,067.
Over 116.82 million tons of cargos were shipped during the period under review, 19% more year-on-year.
Tehran's Mehrabad International Airport accounted for 5.56 million of the total number of passengers, 1% more than in the corresponding period of last year.
Mashhad International Airport and Shiraz International Airport followed with 2.3 million and 1 million passengers respectively.
Mehrabad handled 68,525 landings and takeoffs during the period, considerably higher than other Iranian airports.
IAC data also indicate a 55% growth in the total number of foreign flights passing through Iranian airspace during the seven months under review.
The data do not include figures on Tehran's Imam Khomeini International Airport, which account for the largest number of international flights operated to/from Iran.
Monthly Review
During Sept. 23-Oct. 22, a total of 2.48 million passengers were transported by Iranian airlines on domestic routes to register a 1% decline year-on-year.
Takeoffs and landings posted 8% growth to reach 26,595.
Over 21.12 million tons of cargos were handled during the same period, 13% more than the previous year's 18.72 million tons.
Mehrabad International Airport accounted for 956,498 of the total number of passengers, 5% less than the same period of last year.
Mashhad International Airport and Shiraz International Airport came next with 423,736 and 169,432 passengers, respectively.
Mehrabad handled 10,021 landings and takeoffs during the period, considerably higher than other Iranian airports.
Iranian airlines operated a total of 771 flights from Mashhad to Tehran during the month to Oct. 22, transporting 93,321 passengers. The Mashhad-Tehran route topped the list of most travelled air routes.
A total of 94,815 passengers were flown from Tehran to Mashhad during the month under review via 770 direct flights.
Tehran-Kish route came next with the highest number of monthly flights, followed by Shiraz-Tehran and Tehran-Ahvaz.
A 36% rise was registered in the total number of foreign flights using Iranian airspace during the month ending Oct. 22.
Planes to Operate at Full Capacity as of Nov. 22
The Health Ministry recently issued a new directive, relaxing restrictions on passenger transportation over Covid-19 as of Nov. 22.
As per the directive, airplanes will be allowed to utilize 100% of their passenger capacity, up from 60% in the wake of the pandemic.
Passenger ships, buses and trains will be allowed to use 80% of their capacities.
“After 80% of the population are vaccinated, marine, rail and road transportation can also be operated at full capacity,” reads the directive reported by Mehr News Agency.
Shahram Adamnejad, deputy minister of roads and urban development, communicated the directive to CAO, the Ports and Maritime Organization and Iran Road Maintenance and Transportation Organization.
For domestic flights, passengers need to carry either their vaccination card or a negative PRC test result (taken within 72 hours before takeoff). For international flights, passengers need both these documents, with a negative PCR test taken within 96 hours before takeoff.
For road travels, there is a need for either a negative PCR test taken within two hours before departure or a vaccination card.
To be able to travel domestically on a vessel, passengers need either a vaccination card or a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours before departure. For international marine journeys, passengers are required to have both their vaccination card and a negative PCR test taken within 96 hours before departure.
Passengers traveling by train also need to have vaccination cards as well as their negative PCR test results taken within 72 hours before departure.
The directive mandates social distancing during boarding and disembarking, and prevention of crowding.
Iranian passengers who plan to fly abroad are advised to apply for a digital vaccination card issued by the Ministry of Health and Medical Education, according to an official with the Health Ministry.
“The only valid certificate of Covid-19 vaccination in Iran is the digital card issued at Salamat.gov.ir by the Ministry of Health and Medical Education,” Ali Sharifi Zarchi was also quoted as saying by IRNA.
Passengers are advised to apply for a digital vaccine card at least two weeks before their departure by visiting Salamat.gov.ir.
As of Nov. 23, only vaccinated people or those carrying negative PCR test results are permitted to travel, according to the head of Transport Safety Regulation Codification and Passive Defense Center affiliated with the Ministry of Roads and Urban Development.
“A system called ‘Omid’ will soon come online through which all passengers will be monitored and unless they have been vaccinated or carry a negative PCR test result, they will not be allowed to use public transportation,” Reza Nafisi was also quoted as saying by the news portal of Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture.
The official noted that the Omid system will provide access to information on whether a passenger has Covid-19 or is suspected of being infected, which will help break the contagion cycle more effectively.
The new regulation applies to the twice vaccinated as well as those who have only received their first dose for the time being, provided that the former is not past the due date for their second round of vaccination.
Nafisi noted that in the near future, regulations will become more strict, meaning that only people who have received two doses of vaccines will be permitted to travel.
