Iran Airports Company registered 349,953 takeoffs and landings during the first 11 months of the current Iranian year (March 21, 2019-Feb. 19), which indicates a 3% decline compared with the similar period of last year.
More than 43.16 million passengers were transported during the period, indicating a 1% decrease year-on-year.
Over 431,213 tons of cargos were handled during the same period, which also shows a 1% decrease compared with the corresponding period of last year, IAC's latest report published on its website shows.
A total of 291,209 takeoffs and landings were registered by domestic flights during the 11 months, down 2% YOY. More than 34.21 million passengers and 235,004 tons of cargo were transported domestically, both indicating a 1% rise YOY.
On the international front, 58,744 takeoffs and landings were registered, down 8% YOY. A total of 8.95 million passengers and more than 178,209 tons of cargo were transported to and from overseas destinations, down 5% and 3% respectively compared with the corresponding period of last year.
Similar to previous IAC reports, Tehran’s Mehrabad International Airport was the busiest Iranian airport during the period, with 114,061 takeoffs and landings, registering a 2% decline.
The airport handled 13.61 million passengers, unchanged YOY and around 94,849 tons of cargo, indicating a 1% rise YOY.
Mashhad International Airport was the second busiest airport with 55,777 takeoffs and landings, indicating a 1% YOY decrease. It transported 8.15 million passengers, down 1% YOY, and 77,068 tons of cargos, down 4% year-on-year.
Imam Khomeini International Airport registered 40,197 takeoffs and landings (a 9% YOY decrease), while transporting more than 6.49 million passengers (a 4% decline) and over 129,710 tons of cargos showing a 1% increase YOY. IKIA ranked third on the list of Iran’s busiest airports during the period.
From the 11th Iranian month's perspective (Jan. 21-Feb. 19), a total of 29,429 takeoffs and landings were registered, which indicate a 2% decline compared with the similar period of last year.
More than 3.53 million passengers and 31,018 tons of cargos were transported during the month, indicating a 5% and 15% decrease respectively YOY.
The report shows 25,387 takeoffs and landings were registered by domestic flights from Jan. 21 to Feb. 19, unchanged YOY. Close to 2.97 million passengers and 21,884 tons of cargo were transported domestically, indicating a 3% and 6% decrease respectively YOY.
On the international front, 4,042 takeoffs and landings were registered, showing a 10% decrease YOY. A total of 553,675 passengers and more than 9,134 tons of cargo were transported to and from overseas destinations, indicating a 17% and 31% decrease respectively YOY.
Iran Airports Company is an arm of the Ministry of Roads and Urban Development, which manages 54 airports across the country.
Coronavirus Outbreak Inflicts Huge Losses
The spread of the new coronavirus in Iran has dealt a heavy blow to airlines and travel agencies.
Demand for air transport has considerably decreased following the spread of the coronavirus disease known as COVID-19, which made airlines and travel agencies suffer huge losses. This is while they had prepared themselves for the usual end-of-the-year boom in the runup to Norouz, the Iranian New Year holiday season starting on March 20.
Speaking to Fars News Agency, Secretary of Association of Iranian Airlines Maqsood Asadi-Samani recently said preliminary estimates show airlines will suffer 20 trillion rials ($126.5 million) in losses by April 3—the end of the upcoming Norouz holidays.
Iran's Civil Aviation Organization Spokesman Reza Jafarzadeh told IRNA that domestic flights have witnessed a 70% decline due to the spread of the virus.
Global airlines stand to lose $113 billion in sales, if the coronavirus continues to spread, according to the International Air Transport Association.
In the early days of the outbreak, regional countries, including Iraq, Turkey, the UAE, Kuwait and Azerbaijan, announced they would suspend flights to Iran and would not allow entry to Iranian airlines.
The dramatic decline in airport traffic will appear in IAC's upcoming reports.
