More than 4.78 million passengers and 50.086 tons of cargos were transported during the period, indicating an 8.11% and 0.97% increase respectively year-on-year, IAC's latest data published on its website show.
Tehran’s Mehrabad International Airport was the busiest Iranian airport during the period, with 10,391 takeoffs and landings, registering no significant change YOY.
More than 1.26 million passengers and 9,120 tons of cargo were handled at this airport, posting a YOY rise of 7% and 3% respectively, Financial Tribune reported.
Tehran’s Mehrabad International Airport ranked ninth from among 50 leading airports of 26 countries in the Middle East and North Africa region in 2018.
A total of 129 and 292 takeoffs and landings respectively were registered at the Mehrabad airport in 2018 to make it the ninth busiest in MENA in terms of flight operations, Iran Airports Company reported, citing France’s Ecole Nationale de l’Aviation Civile (ENAC).
With 15,170,243 travelers passing through its terminals in 2018, Mehrabad ranked 11th in terms of passenger traffic in the region.
After Mehrabad, Mashhad International Airport was the second busiest with 6,304 takeoffs and landings, indicating a 4% increase. It transported a total of 923,518 passengers and 8,749 tons of cargos, indicating a 6% rise in passenger transport and 7% decline in cargo transportation respectively year-on-year.
According to ENAC, takeoffs and landings at Mashhad International Airport stood at 63,021 to rank 27th in the MENA region in 2018.
Mashhad International Airport was ranked 18th in passenger traffic with 9,081,402.
A total of 87,333 tons of cargo were handled at the Mashhad airport.
In terms of cargo operations, the airport ranked 21st among MENA airports.
Imam Khomeini International Airport registered 4,232 takeoffs and landings to register a 4.38% fall, while transporting 761,170 passengers and over 14,710 tons of cargos to rank third on the list of Iran’s busiest airports. The figures show a 10.71% and 2.12% rise respectively YOY.
IKIA ranked 29th in MENA with 50,352 takeoffs and landings in 2018 and was placed 16th in terms of cargo operations with 145,425 tons of goods and parcels.
With the biggest share of international flights operated in Iran, the airport has been distinguished as the third fastest-growing airport in the world.
A study by Routes Online shows the airport grew in terms of passenger numbers by 48.6% during the first half of 2018 to 3.93 million, helped by Ata Airlines, following the rise in frequencies to Istanbul Ataturk.
Operated by Iran Airports Company, IKIA is located 30 kilometers southwest of Iran's capital city Tehran.
IKIA's newly-inaugurated Salaam Terminal has the capacity to transport five million passengers per year. It was officially inaugurated in July in the presence of President Hassan Rouhani and Minister of Roads and Urban Development Mohammad Eslami.
The new terminal has increased IKIA's overall capacity by 80%.
IKIA authorities have placed the construction of a third terminal at the airport on their agenda. Iranshahr Terminal’s first phase is expected to be completed in the next five years with a capacity of transporting 25 million passengers per year. The final phase has been planned for transporting 110 million passengers annually.
Iran Airports Company is an arm of the Ministry of Roads and Urban Development, which manages 54 airports across the country.