Bandar Abbas airport resumes flights after wartime damage
Iran's Bandar Abbas International Airport resumed flight operations on Saturday, returning to the country's network of active airports after being damaged during the war, Iranian media reported.
Some Iranian airports were taken out of operation during attacks by the United States and Israel that began on Feb. 28 because of infrastructure damage and the need for safety checks and repairs.
The General Department of Hormozgan Airports said flights from Bandar Abbas had resumed on routes to Tehran, Mashhad and Isfahan.
Kazem Tavassoli, director general of Hormozgan airports, said the Bandar Abbas airport had been ready for domestic and international flights for some time and that limited flights had resumed in recent days.
Scheduled flights on the Tehran-Bandar Abbas route and the return service began on Saturday, he said.
Iran Airtour, Sepehran, Kish Air, Varesh and Meraj airlines will also begin operating from Bandar Abbas according to schedule, Tavassoli said.
Before the war, the airport handled 35 to 40 domestic and international flights a day, but flights were suspended after the attacks began, he said.
The gradual reopening of airports damaged during the war has begun in recent weeks. Reports have also emerged of flights resuming at Qeshm airport after security conditions stabilized.
Seven Iranian airports were targeted during the 40-day war, with attacks focusing more on tourism, passenger and cargo infrastructure than on military facilities, according to Iranian media.
Following the ceasefire reached on April 8 between Washington and Tehran, Iran Air resumed domestic flights on April 25 after a 55-day suspension, with its first service operating between Tehran and Mashhad.
International flights also resumed in late April, beginning with an Iran Air Hajj flight to the holy Saudi city of Medina from Imam Khomeini International Airport, with flights to three destinations operating on the first day.
Aviation industry continues operations
Iran's aviation industry has continued to operate despite damage to some infrastructure and aircraft during the two recent wars, the head of the Civil Aviation Organization said.
Iran was also targeted by Israel in a 12-day war in June last year.
Abuzar Shiroudi said major air operations, including Hajj and Arbaeen flights, had been carried out without serious disruption despite the damage.
He attributed part of the reduced damage to the aviation industry to the use of dispersion and said the entry of new aircraft into the country and repairs to damaged facilities were also on the agenda.
Some radar restrictions may result in changes or rerouting of certain flights, although the restrictions do not affect all flights, Shiroudi said.
Some navigation equipment at airports has also been damaged, he said, adding that repair work was under way.