Imam Khomeini International Airport is the primary international airport of Tehran, the capital of Iran, and is located 30 kilometres southwest of Tehran, near Robat Karim and Eslamshahr districts. The airport is spread over an area of 13,500 hectares. Together with Mehrabad Airport, it is one of the two international airports serving Tehran.
All international flights and private jet flights in Tehran are operated from this airport, while all domestic flights are operated from Mehrabad Airport. The airport ranks third in terms of total passenger traffic in Iran after Tehran Mehrabad Airport and Mashhad Airport. Operated by Iran Airports Company, the airport is the main base of operations for Iran Air and Mahan Air.
The port consists of 2 terminal buildings which are actively used. Although the 3rd terminal building was signed with the Dutch engineering firm Netherlands Airport Consultants (NACO) in 2016, the company withdrew from the contract within the scope of US sanctions.
Iran private jet charter prices
Although Imam Khomeini Airport air charter fees depend on variables such as the number of passengers, departure airport, flight time, aircraft position, flight date, the prices for private jet charter from Istanbul → Tehran are as follows.
| Light Jet | 25.150 EUR |
| Midsize Jet | 33.100 EUR |
| Heavy Jet | 42.250 EUR |
These prices are average amounts and you can contact us on our flight reservation screen or by phone for the most accurate price information.
History of Imam Khomeini Airport and diplomatic crises
Construction of the airport began before the 1979 Iranian revolution. The initial designers were Tippetts-Abbett-McCarthy-Stratton (TAMS), an American engineering and architectural consulting partnership. A local joint venture, TAMS-AFFA, was established between TAMS and the local firm Abdol Aziz Farmanfarmaian Associates to oversee all design and construction. The original design of the airport was to be similar to the Dallas/Fort Worth airport. However, following the Iranian revolution, the project was abandoned until the Iranian government decided to design and build the airport using local expertise.
The French firm ADP was selected to head the local design and engineering firms. A turnkey design and build contract was signed with a local general contracting company, Kayson Co. to execute and manage the construction. Two years later this contract was abandoned and awarded to the Mostazafan Foundation, a bonyad
Following the completion of the construction of Terminal 1 by the Mostazafan Foundation, the Civil Aviation Organisation of Iran decided to hand over the construction and management of the second terminal to the TAV (Tepe-Akfen-Vie) consortium, consisting of two Turkish (Tepe and Akfen) and one Austrian (Vie) company. The first opening was scheduled for 11 February 2004, the start of the “Ten Days of Dawn” celebrations marking the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution. There were numerous problems with the construction of the airport, including the supply of fuel for the new airport, and the delay in signing the agreement with the Iranian oil ministry caused the opening of the airport to be postponed until 8 May 2004.
Just before the inauguration on 8 May, two local airlines refused to switch to the new airport. Following the refusal of the airlines to use a port managed by foreigners, TAV authorities withdrew their personnel and equipment from the airport on 7 May 2004 and operations were transferred to Iran Air. On 8 May, a few hours after the opening of the airport, the Revolutionary Guards of the Iranian Armed Forces closed the airport, citing security concerns regarding the use of foreigners in the operation of the airport. Following diplomatic negotiations between Turkey and Iran, the airport was reopened on 13 May after Iranian Deputy Chief of Staff Brigadier General Alirıza Afshar stated that “security obstacles have been removed as foreign companies will no longer be responsible for the operation of the airport”.
In April 2005, the $350 million Imam Khomeini International Airport reopened under the management of a consortium of four local airlines (Mahan Air, Aseman, Caspian Airlines and Kish Air), although no formal contract had been signed. Shortly afterwards, the management of the airport was transferred to the Iran Airports Company, which, on behalf of the Iranian Ministry of Roads and Transport, is responsible for the operation of all civil and public airports in Iran, except those owned by private entities such as the Ministry of Petroleum or the Armed Forces.
Tehran travel guide
The capital Tehran, the economic, cultural and industrial centre of Iran, is one of the richest cities of the country thanks to its oil refinery. In addition to its economic development, Tehran also stands out with its cultural infrastructure and history.
The Azadi Tower, one of the symbols of the city, the National Treasury Museum, one of the richest museums in the world, the Gulistan Palace, which was built during the reign of Shah Tahmas and is known as one of the most important buildings of the city, the National Botanical Garden, which spreads over an area of 150 hectares, and the Niavaran Palace, where Reza Shah Pahlavi lived during his reign.
Imam Khomeini Airport transport details
You can get from the airport to the city centre by taxi, bus, metro and car rental. The buses departing from the bus stop just outside the airport do not have a regular time. Depending on the number of passengers, airport buses depart when the vehicle is full and do not operate after 00:00.
The most stable way to get from the airport to the city centre is metro. It is quite easy to reach the city centre with the red line of the 24-hour metro line. Taxi stands outside the airport are also available 24 hours a day.
There are offices of local car rental companies in the port.
