An under-construction concrete runway in Mehrabad International Airport in western Tehran will become operational by September, a deputy transport minister said. Mohammad Shekarchizadeh added that using asphalt on runway surfaces is a common method in Iran, Mehr News Agency reported. “However, concrete is safer compared to asphalt coatings and has a longer lifespan of 20-30 years,” he said. The concrete technology has already been used in Tabriz International Airport.