Airport officials say exporters can now use the airport to export food products to Central Asian countries, Russia and Persian Gulf states using Iran Air’s Boeing 747 Cargo jet.
According to Ali Kameli, Payam Airport’s deputy for airport operations, Iran Air Cargo is currently operating two weekly flights to/from the airport—mostly for imports—and is planning to start new routes in the near future, Payam’s public relations reported.
Payam Airport was established in 1997 as a cargo-only airport. After the completion of development projects in the past few months, the airport hosted Antonov 124, which is the world’s second largest cargo aircraft, according to Financial Tribune.
Since the start of the current fiscal year (March 21), 443 tons of goods have been imported through Payam Airport, mostly fresh meat and air ambulances.
Iran Air, the country’s flag carrier, started cargo operations to/from Payam Airport on September 22.
Farzaneh Sharafbafi, Iran Air’s CEO, had announced earlier that her company will also start operating passenger flights to/from Karaj.
The airport is located in the proximity of one-third of the country’s industrial units in Tehran, Alborz and Qazvin provinces.
> New Passenger Flights
The passenger terminal of Payam International Airport was officially launched on Sept. 15 after Taban Airline’s MD88 operated a maiden flight from Mashhad to Karaj.
The airport is now the first passenger airport in Alborz Province, one of the most populated provinces of Iran.
Payam Airport officials are also planning to start new flights from the city of Karaj to Kish, Kermanshah and Ilam in the coming weeks.
“The airport’s traffic is increasing considerably and passengers are asking for new routes ... We are holding talks to start direct flights to Najaf … We will also add two more weekly flight to Mashhad by November,” Manouchehr Etqiaee, Payam Airport’s aviation deputy, was quoted as saying.
Kish Airline is also set to start two weekly flights from Karaj to Kish Island in November, in response to the considerable demand from Karaj residents.
According to the official, talks are underway for launching flights to Ahvaz and Bandar Abbas, though the schedule is not finalized yet.
Iran Aseman Airlines also expressed interest in starting operations in the airport, following their visit to the airport last week.