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
Zabol Airport (ACZ), with ICAO code OIZB, is a regional airport located northeast of Zabol in Iran's Sistan and Baluchestan province. It primarily serves domestic flights, functioning as a vital link for the local community and the surrounding areas. The airport features a single terminal building designed to handle a modest passenger capacity. Its layout is straightforward and integrated, with clearly defined areas for check-in, security screening, and departure gates, all within close proximity. This results in minimal walking times and a relatively uncomplicated passenger experience.
The terminal's amenities are basic, focusing on essential traveler needs. While there are no extensive airline lounges, comfortable seating is available in the waiting areas. Dining options are limited, typically consisting of a small cafรฉ or snack bar offering beverages and light meals, reflecting the airport's regional status. Retail facilities are also modest, possibly including a small convenience store for travel essentials. Accessibility features are rudimentary, mainly offering ground-level access throughout the terminal. Specialized assistance for passengers with reduced mobility should be coordinated in advance with the operating airline.
Security procedures at ACZ adhere to national regulations for regional airports, involving standard screening protocols for both carry-on and checked baggage, along with personal checks. Given its moderate passenger volume, wait times at security checkpoints are generally short, rarely exceeding 10-15 minutes during peak periods. As ACZ 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
Zabol Airport operates as southeastern Iran's domestic aviation hub serving Sistan and Baluchestan Province with essential connectivity to Tehran and Mashhad through Mahan Air and Qeshm Air, recording 758 annual flights transporting 35,883 passengers across the remote border region. Located 5 kilometers from Zabol city and 209 kilometers from Zahedan, the airport features a 3,002-meter runway at 496 meters elevation enabling reliable service to Iran's capital and holiest city, providing crucial access for this isolated region near the Afghanistan border.
Domestic connections through Tehran's Imam Khomeini International Airport enable access to Iran's extensive domestic network serving 30+ cities including Isfahan, Shiraz, Tabriz, Ahvaz, and Kermanshah, while international connections require transfer to IKA's dedicated international terminals for services to Dubai, Istanbul, Frankfurt, and other global destinations. Mashhad connections serve Iran's second-largest city and major religious pilgrimage destination, home to the Imam Reza shrine attracting 25+ million annual visitors, with onward domestic connections available through Mashhad International Airport.
Ground transportation includes taxi services stationed outside the terminal providing quick transfers to downtown Zabol or nearby towns, with the taxi counter located near the flight information desk in the domestic terminal's public hall arranging regional transport across this ethnically diverse province. The airport serves as one of five aviation facilities in Sistan and Baluchestan alongside Zahedan International Airport, Iranshahr Airport, Saravan Airport, and Konarak Airport (Chabahar), supporting economic development and government services in Iran's largest but least populated province covering 181,000 square kilometers of desert and mountain terrain along the Pakistan and Afghanistan borders.
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