Commercial flights have gradually resumed at Iran's largest airport, Imam Khomeini International, following a 58-day suspension triggered by the US-Israeli war on Iran. The airport was shut down along with the country's airspace, stranding travelers and disrupting businesses.

Since April 25, flights have been operating to 15 destinations, including Medina, Istanbul, Muscat, China, and Russia, operated by eight domestic airlines. However, the number of flights remains a fraction of pre-war levels, when the airport handled 150 departures daily.

Ramin Kashef Azar, CEO of Imam Khomeini Airport City, told Al Jazeera that the return of foreign carriers depends on political stability and risk assessments. According to Iran's Civil Aviation Organization, 20 aircraft have been destroyed, though airport infrastructure is approximately 95% intact.

The war has taken a heavy toll on Iran's civil aviation sector. Over 3,300 people have been killed and thousands injured. Several airports, including Mehrabad, Kashan, Tabriz, Ahvaz, Mashhad, Khoy, and Urmia, have been targeted. Mehrabad Airport, which handles domestic flights, was attacked multiple times.

The impact extends beyond aviation. Businesses such as travel agencies have suffered severe losses. Babak, a tour guide, said he and many colleagues lost their jobs due to the suspension of tours. Travel agent Bijan reported cutting staff from 20 to just two, processing refunds for canceled bookings.

While airports are slowly coming back to life and passengers are returning, the recovery remains fragile. Foreign companies are hesitant to resume operations amid ongoing uncertainty in Tehran-Washington negotiations. Each departure signals a tentative reconnection with the world, but the ground reality remains unstable.

Source: www.aljazeera.com