13% Decrease in Number of Domestic and International Air Passengers in Iran

IRNA reports a 13% decrease in the number of domestic and international passengers in Iran compared to the previous solar year. According to a report on Friday, October 20, nearly 28 million domestic and international passengers were transported with 230,000 flights in the first half of the year 97 at Iranian airports. The Ministry of Roads and Urban Development, based on statistics from the Airports and Air Navigation Company of Iran, indicates that this figure shows a 13% decrease for domestic passengers and a 10% decrease for international passengers compared to the same period in 96. In recent months, due to the increase in currency prices and the rise in ticket prices for domestic and international flights, the demand for air travel in Iran or to destinations abroad has decreased. In late August, media in Iran reported a "price shock" in the domestic flight market, stating that "there is no longer a chance for a flight to be fully booked on regular days." Recent statistics from the Ministry of Roads and Transportation indicate that in the first half of this year, 230,136 flights were conducted at airports owned by the Airports Company and five dedicated airports in the country, transporting nearly 28 million passengers and 290 million kilograms of cargo. The report shows that despite this, the number of flights, passenger transport, and cargo transport in the first half of this year decreased by 10%, 13%, and 11% respectively compared to the same period last year. Mehrabad Airport ranked first in passenger transport. According to this report, the highest passenger transport and number of flights belonged to Mehrabad Airport, where 65,973 flights were conducted in the first half of this year, transporting 7,665,864 passengers. The second and third ranks among airports were held by Mashhad Airport with nearly 35,000 flights and over five million passengers, and Imam Khomeini Airport with 27,569 flights and under 4.5 million passengers. Additionally, in the first six months of this year, 189,103 domestic flights were conducted in the country, transporting 21,750,026 passengers, which shows a 9% and 13% decrease compared to last year. During the same period, a total of 41,033 international flights were conducted in the country, transporting 6,166,278 passengers, indicating a 12% and 11% decrease compared to the same period last year. 1,252 international flights were related to Hajj flights, and 6,462 flights belonged to "Atabat Aliyat" flights. The first rank for international flights in the first half of this year also belonged to Imam Khomeini International Airport with 27,135 international flights and the transport of 4,324,054 passengers, which shows an 11% decline compared to the same period last year. Media previously reported warnings from experts and analysts about the "unpleasant consequences" of rising flight prices for the survival of airlines in Iran. According to estimates by domestic airlines, airlines pay between 60% to 70% of their costs in foreign currencies, thus the high exchange rate has been declared the main factor for the increase in ticket prices. The extent of the increase in ticket prices and its impact on travel agencies and airlines was such that Hassan Rouhani, in a directive to the Minister of Industry, Mine and Trade, called for a reduction in ticket prices.