New US aviation sanctions have resulted in longer and more expensive journeys for Iranian travelers as international flight routes diminish. In late September, travelers could fly directly from Tehran to Dubai in less than three hours, with ticket prices ranging from $100 to $200. However, less than a month later, the same journey can take up to 18 hours and cost over $1,000.
This change follows a new round of sanctions imposed by the United States targeting Iranian airlines and foreign companies providing services to them. These restrictions intensified after a September 23 deadline for companies to cease servicing Iranian carriers, leading to the suspension of direct flights between Iran and the United Arab Emirates, as well as other countries.
The US has aimed to block routes into and out of Iran and restrict access to the country. In August, the US announced Operation Economic Outcast to increase pressure on Iran, targeting the remaining sectors of the Iranian economy still connected to the global market.
As part of this campaign, the US sanctioned 27 airlines operating in Iran, threatening airports, fuel suppliers, ground-handling service providers, and other foreign companies working with Iranian airlines with secondary sanctions that could cut them off from the US financial system.
The first indication of the sanctions' impact occurred on September 24, when an Iranian flight from Tehran to Dushanbe was forced to return mid-journey after being denied permission to enter Turkmenistan’s airspace. The UAE, Azerbaijan, and Georgia also suspended services for Iranian flights, halting flights between Iran and Muscat and Baghdad, and briefly disrupting flights to Najaf in Iraq.
These developments occurred amid the ongoing US-Israeli conflict with Iran, which had already caused significant disruption to the country’s international air links. Most international airlines have yet to resume services to Iran. Flights to countries such as China and Russia have continued despite the new US measures, but restoring suspended routes will require negotiations with other governments.
More than three weeks after the sanctions took effect, routes to destinations including Moscow, Najaf, Istanbul, Yerevan, and Guangzhou in China remain operational, but Iran’s international flight network is still severely restricted.
This situation has caused major disruptions for travelers to and from Iran. Amir, a resident of Illinois, shared the difficulties his mother faced in trying to travel to Iran for medical care. He stated, "My mother lives in the United States, but her medical records are in Iran. For months, her medical appointments have been delayed because of the war and the conditions it has created.
"A few weeks ago, we decided to take advantage of the relative calm and make a trip to Iran so she could receive medical care. But then the new sanctions were announced, effectively disrupting flights to Iran. Now, to get to Iran, we have to fly to Istanbul and wait there for several hours or even several days, depending on when a flight to Iran is available. Making such a journey is extremely stressful for a woman traveling alone who is also ill. It is completely unfair."
The sanctions have also significantly impacted Iran’s domestic travel. Majid Hosseini-Nejad, founder of Alibaba Travel Group, one of the largest online platforms for booking travel tickets and accommodation in Iran, stated that the new sanctions have affected ticket sales. "As a result of the recent sanctions, around 20 percent of the flights operating from Iran to international destinations have been suspended," he said. "This has reduced revenues for airline ticket-booking services. Airlines’ revenues have also fallen significantly because of the sanctions."
On October 11, Iran’s Foreign Ministry announced that its Department of Economic Affairs was continuing efforts to facilitate Iranian flights to other countries. Flights to and from Iran are still facing lengthy delays, last-minute cancellations, and, in some cases, diversions back to their point of departure.
Currently, Iranian travelers have little clarity about when the situation might improve. Another traveler named Amir, who regularly flies between Iran and Oman for work, remarked, "Beyond the other financial losses caused by the sanctions, flight cancellations have added another layer of difficulty to our lives. Every trip between Muscat and Tehran now takes several times longer and costs several times more than before. It is unclear when the situation will change, or whether it will improve at all."