Muslim Shajai, the Director General of Marketing and Development of Foreign Tourism at the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts, reports on the new challenges that reduced access to international flights has created for travelers. This situation not only affects foreign tourists traveling to Iran but also complicates Iranians' travel to foreign destinations. In such circumstances, the use of alternative routes and the capacity of border airports have been proposed as solutions to prevent complete disruption in passenger movement.
Proposed Scenarios for Continuing Travel
Shajai tells Hamshahri: "In collaboration with the Civil Aviation Organization and the private sector, solutions have been considered for both situations." He points out that currently, 27 Iranian airlines are facing sanctions, explaining that restrictions in this area have increased. However, flights from Iran to countries such as Turkey, Iraq, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Russia, China, and Thailand are still operational, although these flights have decreased compared to the pre-sanction period.
Planning for Critical Conditions
The Director General of Marketing and Development of Foreign Tourism at the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts considers the first scenario to be related to the continuation of international flights despite restrictions, and the second scenario pertains to a situation where no flights can leave Iran, even to destinations like Iraq and Turkey. Shajai states: "If restrictions continue, the establishment of new regional hubs is one of the solutions that the Civil Aviation Organization is pursuing. Due to considerations related to sanctions, it is not possible to elaborate on all the details of these programs, but measures have been taken for these conditions."
He further discusses the possibility of all flight routes being closed, stating: "If Iranian airplanes are deprived of airport services and direct flights from the country are not possible, the use of border shuttle services will be one of the alternative solutions. To implement this plan, some airports in border regions, including Urmia, Kermanshah, Sanandaj, Ahvaz, and Mashhad, must operate 24 hours a day, and the possibility of transporting passengers via air, rail, and other routes must be provided."
Shajai adds: "For example, passengers can be transferred from Urmia to the Razi border and then to the city of Van in Turkey to continue their journey from there. This mechanism is also applicable for foreign travelers in the reverse direction. In any case, operational solutions for various conditions have been examined, and sanctions do not necessarily mean a complete blockage of entry and exit routes for travelers from Iran."
