Iran Air will soon face a flight ban to Europe, significantly altering travel dynamics. The airline currently operates eight non-stop routes and handled 15% of Europe-Iran passenger traffic last year. Turkish Airlines is expected to benefit the most from this ban, as passengers shift to indirect flights, leading to higher fares.
Impact on European Flights and Passengers
About 1.8 million passengers traveled between Europe and Iran last year, excluding Turkey. Istanbul served as a major connection hub. Iran Air played a crucial role by offering non-stop services to cities such as London, Milan, Paris, Hamburg, Frankfurt, Cologne, Vienna, and Rome. The ban is a response to Iran’s support of Russia in the Ukraine conflict. Iran Air had previous bans between 2010-2016 and briefly in 2020.
European Response and Potential Consequences
The UK, France, and Germany announced plans to end Iran Air flights. The European Union will likely be involved in this decision. Consequently, Iran might retaliate by banning Austrian Airlines and Lufthansa, the two European carriers currently operating in the country.
Current European Operations of Iran Air
Iran Air focuses its European operations from Tehran Imam Khomeini International Airport. The airline uses Airbus A330 aircraft for its eight routes. In 2023, Iran Air carried about 273,000 passengers, representing roughly 15% of its total traffic.
Alternative Non-Stop Options
In recent years, several European airlines served Iran, including Aegean, Aeroflot, Air France, Belavia, British Airways, KLM, and Ukraine International. Most of these airlines stopped their operations by 2018 due to sanctions and reduced demand. Currently, only two carriers remain:
- Austrian Airlines: Daily flights from Vienna with A320/A321 aircraft
- Lufthansa: Scheduled to resume flights to Tehran on October 27, 2024, with five weekly A340-300 services
Other Iranian Carriers and Market Impact
Mahan Air served Europe until 2019, and Qeshm Air briefly operated a route from Tabriz to Hamburg. However, this service seems to have been discontinued. With Iran Air’s ban, Turkish Airlines and potentially Qatar Airways will gain the most. Turkish Airlines is expected to increase flight frequencies or upgrade aircraft to accommodate the additional passenger demand. Remember to check WentWorld.com and follow our social media channels for ultimate travel tips and destination guides.
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