โฐ Minimum Connection Times
Domestic โ Domestic
45
minutes
Domestic โ International
90
minutes
International โ Domestic
90
minutes
International โ International
120
minutes
Interline Connections
150
minutes
๐ข Terminal Information
Mehrabad International Airport is Tehran's historic aviation hub and Iran's busiest airport by passenger volume, handling over 12.3 million passengers annually despite primarily serving domestic operations since 2007. Originally opened in 1938 with international recognition by the International Civil Aviation Organization in 1949, the airport served as Iran's primary international gateway until the opening of Imam Khomeini International Airport. Located at an elevation of 3,962 feet above sea level in central Tehran, Mehrabad remains strategically important as the primary hub for Iran's major airlines and the headquarters of Iran Air and the Iran Civil Aviation Organization.
The airport features three parallel runways designed to handle high-volume domestic traffic: Runway 09/27 measuring 1,556 feet, and two longer parallel runways 11L/29R (13,098 feet) and 11R/29L (13,248 feet), providing excellent capacity for simultaneous operations. This infrastructure enables the airport to efficiently manage its status as a hub for most Iranian airlines, serving domestic routes to 41 cities across Iran. The runway configuration and length accommodate everything from regional turboprops to wide-body aircraft used on longer domestic routes within Iran's vast territory.
The terminal complex consists of multiple specialized facilities: Terminal 1 exclusively serves Kish Air, Zagros, and Varesh Airlines; Terminal 2 functions as the primary hub for Iran Air, Iran Air Tours, Meraj Airlines, Qeshm Air, and Ata Airlines, featuring dedicated jet bridges for Meraj Airlines and handling all cargo operations; while Terminals 4 and 6, opened in 2007, manage departures and arrivals respectively for all other carriers. This terminal segregation system helps optimize passenger flow and reduces congestion across the airport complex.
Mehrabad Airport offers comprehensive ground transportation connectivity, including two dedicated Tehran Metro stations serving the airport complex: one for Terminals 1 and 2, and another for Terminals 4 and 6, providing efficient urban transit links to central Tehran. The airport maintains its international airport designation and infrastructure despite focusing primarily on domestic operations, with facilities including shops, cafes, airline service desks near check-in halls, and comprehensive passenger amenities across all terminals, making it a vital transportation hub for Iran's domestic aviation network.
๐ Connection Tips
Mehrabad International Airport is Tehran's primary domestic aviation hub, handling over 12 million passengers annually despite focusing mainly on domestic flights since 2007. Passengers should allow extra time for security procedures and potential terminal transfers, especially during peak travel periods. This metro connection is particularly valuable given Tehran's notorious traffic congestion. The terminal segregation system helps optimize passenger flow and reduces congestion. International travelers should note that while Mehrabad retains its international designation and infrastructure, most international flights now operate from Tehran's Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKA), located much further from the city center.
The airport offers excellent ground transportation connectivity through two dedicated Tehran Metro stations: one serving Terminals 1 and 2, and another for Terminals 4 and 6, providing efficient urban transit links to central Tehran. Currency exchange services are available, but cash transactions are common throughout Iran's aviation system. The airport's three parallel runways can handle simultaneous operations, reducing delays during peak periods. Taxis and ride-sharing services are also available, but the metro often provides faster travel times to the city center.
Mehrabad maintains comprehensive passenger amenities across all terminals, including shops, cafes, airline service desks near check-in halls, currency exchange, and prayer facilities. Located in central Tehran at 3,962 feet elevation, the airport features multiple specialized terminals: Terminal 1 serves Kish Air, Zagros, and Varesh Airlines; Terminal 2 is the main hub for Iran Air, Iran Air Tours, Meraj Airlines, Qeshm Air, and Ata Airlines; while Terminals 4 and 6 handle departures and arrivals for other carriers. The airport operates in Persian and English, though Persian signage is predominant. Iran Air's headquarters location at the airport means extensive domestic route options to 41 Iranian cities, making it the country's most comprehensive domestic connectivity hub.
โฐ Minimum Connection Times
Domestic โ Domestic
60
minutes
Domestic โ International
90
minutes
Interline Connections
120
minutes
๐ข Terminal Information
Sahand Airport (ACP), with ICAO code OITM, is a small public airport situated in Maragheh, East Azerbaijan Province, Iran. It primarily serves the local communities of Maragheh and Bonab, facilitating essential domestic flights. The airport operates from a single, compact terminal building that is designed for basic passenger processing. Its layout is straightforward and integrated, featuring clearly defined areas for check-in and a simple waiting area before passengers proceed to the departure gate.
The terminal, though modest, aims to provide functional services. While detailed information about extensive internal amenities is not readily available, travelers should expect basic facilities suitable for a regional airport. There are no extensive retail shops or dedicated dining options beyond perhaps a small cafรฉ or snack bar. VIP lounges are available, catering to passengers seeking additional comfort and privacy.
Security procedures at ACP adhere to national regulations for regional airports, involving standard screening protocols for both carry-on and checked baggage, along with personal checks. Given the limited flight schedule and moderate passenger volume, wait times at security checkpoints are generally short, rarely exceeding 10-15 minutes during peak periods. As ACP handles domestic traffic exclusively, there are no international immigration or customs facilities on site; these functions would be processed at larger international airports in Iran if connecting from an international flight.
๐ Connection Tips
Connecting through Sahand Airport involves navigating Iran's most limited domestic aviation facility serving Maragheh and Bonab in East Azerbaijan Province, where Iran Air operates the sole commercial route with flight IR3384 providing once-weekly service to Tehran-Mehrabad International Airport using ATR 72/42 turboprop aircraft for the 1 hour 30 minute journey. This minimal schedule makes ACP one of Iran's least connected airports, requiring careful coordination for travelers needing to reach this northwestern region known for its historical significance as the former Mongol capital and astronomical observatory site dating to the 13th century.
Domestic connections through Tehran-Mehrabad's Terminal 2 enable access to Iran Air's extensive domestic network serving over 30 Iranian cities including Mashhad, Isfahan, Shiraz, Tabriz, and Bandar Abbas, while international connections require transfer to Imam Khomeini International Airport located 30 kilometers south of Tehran for foreign carrier services. The limited weekly frequency demands flexible travel planning with potential multi-day stays in Maragheh if missing the single departure, making road transport via the 75-kilometer journey to Tabriz International Airport a common alternative for more frequent flight options.
Ground transportation from Sahand Airport to Maragheh city center 15 kilometers away relies primarily on pre-arranged taxis with negotiated fares as no public transport serves this remote facility, while the historic city offers access to UNESCO-tentative sites including the Maragheh Observatory remains and Ilkhanid period monuments. Weather considerations in this mountainous region at 1,350 meters elevation include severe winters with potential snow disruptions from December through March affecting the single runway operations, while summer heat exceeding 35ยฐC can impact ATR aircraft performance. The airport's strategic importance remains limited to serving local government officials and providing emergency medical evacuation capabilities for this agricultural region producing grapes, apricots, and walnuts in the fertile Sufi Chay river valley.
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