Tehran’s Imam Khomeini Airport Resumes International Flights to Istanbul and Muscat Saturday

Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport is set to resume outbound international passenger flights starting Saturday, with Istanbul and Muscat named as the initial destinations after a shutdown tied to the US-Israeli war on Iran.

Global Times, citing media, said “Iran's Imam Khomeini International Airport will resume flights to Istanbul in Türkiye and the Omani capital Muscat as of Saturday,” and framed the move as a restart of international services.

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The Caspian Post likewise reported that Iran would resume international passenger flights from Tehran starting Saturday, listing “Istanbul and Muscat among the initial destinations.”

Anadolu Ajansı reported that the airport announced the resumption of outbound flights “starting this Saturday, via routes to Istanbul, Turkey, and Muscat, Oman,” after it had been closed on February 28 “in the wake of American-Israeli attacks.”

The Vanguard News account also said “International flights from Tehran’s Imam Khomeini Airport will resume on Saturday,” with the first routes to Istanbul and Muscat.

Shafaq News added that Iran would resume international flights “from Imam Khomeini International Airport on Saturday,” and said the Civil Aviation Organization clarified the restart as an initial step to restore connectivity.

Across the reports, the airport’s restart is presented as part of a phased reopening of Iran’s air links following the war shutdown and ceasefire period.

The flight resumption is repeatedly tied to the ceasefire and the gradual reopening of Iran’s airspace after the war began on February 28.

The Caspian Post said foreign passenger flights would resume “on April 25 after being suspended during the war,” and described the earlier disruption as air traffic being “largely disrupted following the onset of war on Feb. 28.”

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It added that “The war has been on hold since April 8 under a ceasefire mediated by Pakistan,” and said Washington and Tehran held talks in Pakistan the previous weekend with efforts underway to arrange a new round of negotiations.

Vanguard News similarly said Iran’s airspace was “slammed shut by the US-Israeli war with Iran that began on February 28 and is only slowly being reopened during the ceasefire,” and noted that Mashhad airport would reopen on Monday.

The Economic Times described the move as a “further step in Iran’s phased reopening of its airspace after weeks of disruption due to the US-Israeli war that began on February 28,” and said the first routes to restart would connect Tehran with Istanbul and Muscat.

Shafaq News stated that the Civil Aviation Organization said services would restart as an initial step to restore connectivity, and that it had authorized flights to resume at Imam Khomeini and Mehrabad airports from April 20 “under a phased reopening.”

The Asr Iran report added a domestic operational detail, saying the Civil Aviation Organization resumed Imam Khomeini Airport’s operations “24 hours a day” and that the lifting of “24-hour restrictions” was linked to the return of foreign flights.

Several reports specify which airlines and what operational steps accompany the restart, while others describe the immediate passenger experience at the airport.

“Tehran's largest airport to resume int'l flights as of Saturday -- media [](https://subscribe”

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Anadolu Ajansı said the airport’s statement indicated that flights to Istanbul and Muscat would be operated by “Iran Air, Mahan Air, Iran Air Tour, and Sepehran Airlines,” and that the “flight schedule will be updated in the coming days after obtaining the necessary licenses from the Iranian Civil Aviation Organization.”

The Caspian Post said permits for additional domestic and international routes would be issued “gradually based on demand,” and quoted Ramin Kashef Azar, CEO of Imam Khomeini Airport City, saying “All infrastructure and navigation systems are fully operational, and there are no issues for conducting flights.”

The Vanguard News account said tracking data showed “at least two international flights departing the airport, to Turkey and Oman respectively,” after Iran reopened its airspace.

Asr Iran described the on-the-ground effect after the resumption, saying images on social media showed Imam Khomeini International Airport “after the resumption of foreign flights and the lifting of 24-hour restrictions, facing significant crowding,” including “long queues at security gates, crowding in waiting lounges, and increased flight movements at various times of day and night.”

It also said the Civil Aviation Organization made a “new decision” to resume operations “24 hours a day,” and that “with the full reopening of flight routes, facilitated the gradual return of foreign airlines.”

In that same report, Emirates airline “has resumed its flights to Iran from Friday,” and it said “FlyDubai’s flight has arrived at Imam Khomeini Airport as one of the first returning flights.”

Even as flights resume, at least one government advisory in the sources urges caution for travelers heading to Iran, reflecting the continuing uncertainty described around the reopening.

Bhaskar English reported that “The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has strongly advised Indian citizens against travelling to Iran and urged those currently in the country to leave through designated land border routes,” citing “continued regional instability and disruptions to international flight operations.”

Anadolu Ajansı

It quoted the Indian Embassy in Tehran saying, “In view of reports of commencement of some flights between India and Iran, and in continuation of earlier advisories, Indian citizens are strongly advised not to travel to Iran, whether by air or land,” and said the MEA reiterated that “Airspace restrictions and operational uncertainties due to regional tensions continue to affect international flight operations to and from Iran.”

The embassy’s statement also advised that “all Indian nationals currently in Iran should leave the country through designated land border routes, strictly in coordination with the Embassy,” and it provided emergency contact details including “+989128109115, +989128109109, +989128109102 and +989932179359.”

Bhaskar English further said the embassy cautioned citizens against approaching international land borders without prior consultation with the embassy.

The report also referenced an earlier advisory issued on April 8, quoting that Indian nationals still in Iran were “strongly advised to expeditiously exit Iran, in coordination with the Embassy and using the routes suggested by the Embassy.”

In the same Bhaskar English piece, the reopening context was described as Iran’s airports remaining largely shut since the outbreak of conflict on February 28, with the Civil Aviation Organisation announcing phased reopening beginning with transit flights and later limited operations from eastern airports.

The sources describe the restart as the beginning of a broader, controlled return of aviation activity rather than a full normalization, with multiple airports and route permissions still in motion.

The Caspian Post said permits for additional domestic and international routes would be issued “gradually based on demand,” and it described the airport as having remained active for cargo operations during the ceasefire while foreign airlines moved aircraft out of it.

Anadolu Ajansi

Vanguard News said Iran’s airspace was “only slowly being reopened during the ceasefire,” and noted that officials announced last week that Mashhad airport would reopen on Monday, while tracking data showed at least two international departures.

Shafaq News added that Iran had authorized flights to resume at Imam Khomeini and Mehrabad airports from April 20 “under a phased reopening,” and said operations remain limited with restricted hours, with full restoration depending on “safety conditions.”

The Economic Times similarly framed the Tehran restart as “a further step in Iran’s phased reopening of its airspace,” and said the move followed earlier decisions to resume operations at key airports across the country.

Asr Iran said the Civil Aviation Organization resumed Imam Khomeini Airport’s operations “24 hours a day” and that “with the full reopening of flight routes, facilitated the gradual return of foreign airlines,” while also describing the crowding and increased flight movements.

Anadolu Ajansı said the flight schedule would be updated “in the coming days after obtaining the necessary licenses from the Iranian Civil Aviation Organization,” tying the next phase to licensing.