Hot air ballooning, recreational flights to be introduced at airports
Iran has signed an agreement to introduce hot air ballooning and light recreational flights at its airports, aiming to tap into underutilized infrastructure to boost tourism and attract private investment.
The memorandum of understanding was signed between the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts and the Iran Airports Company (IAC), IRNA reported on Wednesday.
Under the plan, authorities will develop “air tourism” by offering balloon rides, light recreational flights, and modern aerial entertainment services within airport premises.
In addition to aerial activities, the deal seeks to turn airport spaces into commercial hubs for Iranian handicrafts. Planners say the initiative will give domestic and foreign tourists easier access to authentic local products while creating new specialized jobs.
Traditionally used only for passenger and cargo transit, Iran’s airports will now host a “new generation of combined tourism, recreational, commercial, and handicraft projects,” according to the agreement’s framework.
To draw private investors, the two entities will identify unused airport lands and spaces, packaging them into investment projects.
The projects will benefit from tax exemptions and financial incentives provided under Clause B, Article 83 of Iran’s Seventh Development Plan, a legal framework designed to lower the costs of tourism infrastructure and equipment.
The government’s push relies heavily on private sector participation, aiming to convert idle airport capacities into active economic opportunities and strengthen the link between the country’s aviation infrastructure and its tourism economy.