Tehran international flights drop 42% following US aviation ban

International flights at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport dropped 42 percent following the implementation of a United States ban on Iranian airlines, according to tracking data from FlightRadar24 released on Thursday, 1 October. Daily flight volume fell to an average of 53 international services since the ban took effect on 23 September, down from a daily average of 91 flights previously recorded. The decline follows a period of heightened regional tension and follows Israeli-American strikes on Iran in February that previously forced a temporary closure of Iranian airspace. Routes suspended across the Middle East Data recorded up to Wednesday, 30 September, shows that regular services to Georgia, Oman, and Azerbaijan have ceased entirely. Regional connectivity has been sharply impacted, particularly between Iran and the UAE. While three flights operated between Tehran and Dubai on 23 September, no services have run since that date as the UAE confirmed it is enforcing the US-led restrictions. Connectivity with Iraq has also been disrupted, with no flights recorded between the two nations since 25 September. However, Iraq’s transport ministry announced on Tuesday that the US has granted permission for its national carrier to operate flights between Najaf and Iran, with services expected to commence in October. Resilient corridors and carrier shifts Despite the broader downturn, specific international corridors remain operational. Turkey remains Tehran's busiest…