Iranian Airlines Continue Flights to Istanbul and China

Iranian Airlines Continue Flights to Istanbul and China Despite US Sanctions

Iranian airlines continued operating flights to Türkiye, China and other destinations on September 24, despite new US sanctions targeting Iran's aviation sector. Flight information from Tehran's Imam Khomeini International Airport showed that several Iranian carriers were still operating international routes.

The United States introduced new measures targeting Iran's aviation sector, with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warning that foreign companies providing services such as refueling, ground handling or ticket sales to Iranian airlines could face restrictions on access to the US dollar system.

Flights to Istanbul Continue

According to flight data, Iranian airlines continued operating services between Tehran and Istanbul after the new measures took effect. Iran Air had scheduled flights to Istanbul on September 24, while other Iranian carriers have also continued using Turkish airports.

Iran Air said earlier that it had not received official instructions from Turkish aviation authorities to suspend flights to Istanbul. Türkiye's State Airports Authority has also listed Iran Air among carriers holding permits at Istanbul Airport through the end of September.

At the same time, the situation is not the same for all Iranian airlines. Mahan Air suspended its flights to Türkiye from September 21 amid increased pressure linked to the US measures.

China Remains an Important Destination

Iranian carriers have also continued operating flights to China. Mahan Air, for example, has scheduled services to destinations including Guangzhou and Shanghai, while other international connections remain available.

AFP reported on September 24 that although several international routes had been suspended, flights to China remained among the destinations still available to Iranian passengers.

Some Regional Routes Have Been Suspended

The new restrictions have already affected several routes. Flights between Iran and Georgia and Azerbaijan have been suspended, while services to destinations including Baghdad, Muscat and Qatar have also faced cancellations, according to reports from Iranian and international sources.

Najaf in Iraq has continued to receive Iranian flights, providing an alternative for some passengers who can no longer use Baghdad.

The US measures do not automatically close foreign airports to Iranian airlines. Their impact depends in part on decisions by the authorities and companies in each country regarding fuel, ground services, landing permissions and ticket sales.

Türkiye Remains an Important Transit Point

Türkiye has traditionally been an important international travel hub for Iranian passengers. However, Turkish Airlines, AJet and Pegasus have suspended their Iran routes, with their booking systems showing no scheduled services to Iran in the near term.

As a result, Iranian airlines operating flights to Istanbul and other Turkish cities remain an important part of the available air connections between the two countries.

The situation remains fluid, and individual routes may change depending on decisions by aviation authorities, airlines and service providers.

Source: bne IntelliNews, AFP, Türkiye Today.