WANA (Apr 18) – The Civil Aviation Organization (CAO) of Iran announced today that portions of the country’s airspace and several airports have officially resumed operations as of 7:00 AM Local time, Saturday, April 18, 2026.

 

According to a Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) issued by the CAO, the reopening marks a strategic return to service for key aviation corridors. Highlights of the announcement include:

 

Eastern Corridor Open: Air routes in the eastern portion of Iran’s airspace are now open for international transit flights.

 

Phased Resumption: Flight operations at domestic airports will be restored gradually.

 

Operational Coordination: The restart depends on the technical and operational readiness of both military and civilian sectors to ensure safe passenger services.

 

The CAO noted that the reopening is being managed carefully to facilitate the movement of international traffic while domestic services scale up based on infrastructure readiness.

 

Tehran-Istanbul Flights to Resume Tomorrow

In a text message sent to travel agencies, Iran’s Meraj Airlines also announced the establishment of daily flights from Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport to Istanbul starting Sunday, April 19, 2026.

 

Six Iranian Airports Reopen

In a separate statement, the Secretary of the Association of Iranian Airlines announced that six major airports, including Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International and Mehrabad, have officially reopened.

 

The reopening also includes airports in Mashhad, Birjand, Gorgan, and Zahedan. Domestic and international airlines are currently preparing to resume scheduled flight operations.