Mehrabad International Airport

فرودگاه بین المللی مهرآباد
Summary
Airport typePublic / military
OwnerGovernment of Iran
OperatorIran Airports Company
Iranian Air Force
Islamic Republic of Iran Army Aviation
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
Iranian Police Aviation
ServesTehran metropolitan area
LocationTehran, Iran
Opened1938[1]
Hub for
Elevation AMSL3,962 ft / 1,208 m
Coordinates35°41′21″N 51°18′49″E / 35.68917°N 51.31361°E / 35.68917; 51.31361
Websitemehrabad.airport.ir
Maps
THR is located in Iran
THR
THR
Location of airport in Iran
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
11L/29R 13,087 3,989 Asphalt
11R/29L 13,258 4,041 Asphalt
Statistics (2017)
Aircraft movements142,037 Increase 7%
Passengers17,464,216 Increase 7%
Cargo120,467 tons Increase 8%

Mehrabad International Airport (Persian: فرودگاه بین المللی مهرآباد, Foroudgâh-e Beyn Almelali-ye Mehrâbâd) (IATA: THR, ICAO: OIII), is an airport serving Tehran, the capital city of Iran. Prior to the construction of the larger Imam Khomeini International Airport in 2007, Mehrabad was Tehran's primary airport in both international and domestic traffic, but now serves only domestic flights. Despite this, in 2016, Mehrabad Airport was the busiest airport in Iran in terms of passengers, handling 16,678,351 passengers in total. The airport is also used by the Government of Iran and is one of the bases of the Iranian Air Force.

History

Terminals 1 and 2

The airport was used for the first time as an airfield for aviation club planes in 1938. During World War II it became a stopover point for the U.S. Air Transport Command.[3]

After the war, along with becoming internationally recognized by joining the Iranian civil aviation organization to the ICAO in 1949, the airport also became an air force base.

In 1955 just after construction of first asphalt paved runway a new terminal building (current Terminal 1) for both international and domestic flights was designed and constructed. In April 1956 Lockheed T-33 Shooting Stars (T-33As) trainer aircraft began arriving for the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force. In May 1957 these were followed by Republic F-84 Thunderjet (F-84Gs) fighter. In 1961, Mehrabad Airport added a side building (current Terminal 2) used for arrival flights.

In May 1975, Iran Air started flying to New York via London.[4] The airline launched direct service to New York the following June.[5][6] The construction of a new airport commenced 35 kilometres (22 mi) from Tehran in 1977. The city was growing around Mehrabad, and the airfield was witnessing high amounts of traffic.[7][8] Between 1970 and 1976, passenger counts had risen from 900,000 to 3,020,000.[9] On 24 January 1979, the military took control of Mehrabad and other airports in the country in an attempt to prevent Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini's return from exile in Paris.[10] It ultimately relented and permitted his arrival at Mehrabad aboard a chartered Air France plane eight days later.[11] At the beginning of the Iran–Iraq War in September 1980, Iraq carried out an air strike on the airport.[12] In the 1980s, Mehrabad's route network spanned from Paris to Beijing.[13]

By 2000, the airport was serving nine million passengers annually, in addition to military flights. Due to the congestion, airlines advised travellers to arrive at Mehrabad three hours prior to departure.[7] The new airport, now called Imam Khomeini International Airport, opened in 2004. However, political factors delayed the transfer of all international flights to the new facility.[14] Iran Air commenced service to Caracas on a Boeing 747 in March 2007.[15][16] The flights stopped in Damascus and were operated under a codeshare agreement with Conviasa.[17] Seven months later, Iran Air handed the route over to the latter. Conviasa operated the link with an Airbus A340.[18][19] All international flights had moved to Imam Khomeini Airport by November 2007.[14]

In June 2020, Mehrabad Airport announced a new terminal to replace Terminals 4 and 6. The new terminal is to have 20 gates (10 with jetbridges) and a new CIP Terminal. It is not known when construction will start.

Facilities

Mehrabad International Airport consists of 4 terminals:[20]

The airport is home to the head offices of Iran Air and the Iran Civil Aviation Organization.[21][22][23] In addition the Iranian Airports Company also has its head office at Mehrabad Airport, nearby Terminal 2.[24]

Operations

Mehrabad Airport only handles domestic flights.[25][26] Between March 2022 and March 2023, the airport received 12.3 million passengers.[26]

Accidents and incidents

  • On 15 March 1974 a Sterling Airways Sud Aviation Caravelle suffered a landing gear failure. As the aircraft was taxiing, the right main landing gear failed, causing the right wing to collapse and catch fire. Fifteen passengers were killed in the accident.[27]
  • On 5 December 1974 a roof collapsed, killing 17 and injuring dozens more.[28]
  • On 21 January 1980 Iran Air Flight 291 crashed into the Alborz mountains on approach to Mehrabad, killing all 128 people on board.[29]
  • On 8 February 1993 a mid-air collision occurred between Iran Air Tours Tupolev Tu-154M and IRIAF Sukhoi Su-24, killing all 133 people on board both aircraft involved.[30]
  • On 20 April 2005, Saha Airlines Flight 171, a Boeing 707-3J9C, had an accident while landing in Mehrabad airport. After touchdown on runway 29L problems with the undercarriage (failure of landing gear or a burst tire) caused the Boeing 707 to slide off the runway into the Kan River. Three passengers were killed after they fell in the river during the evacuation.[31]
  • On 6 December 2005 an Iranian Air Force C-130 Hercules crashed in Tehran shortly after taking off from the airport.[32]
  • On 2 January 2008, an Iran Air Fokker 100 (EP-IDB) plane carrying 100 passengers skidded off the runway after part of its wing caught fire when attempting to take off on a domestic flight to Shiraz Airport. The landing gear disintegrated and the ensuing fire partially consumed the wings. No one was injured in the accident, which happened around 07:30 IRST amid heavy snowfall at the airport.[33]
  • On 10 August 2014 Sepahan Airlines Flight 5915, an HESA IrAn-140, crashed shortly after takeoff from Mehrabad International Airport. The aircraft experienced engine malfunction and attempted a return to the airport 4 minutes after takeoff, but was unable to maintain altitude and crashed into a residential area. 39 people were killed and 9 were injured.[34]
  • On 15 October 2015 a Mahan Air Boeing 747 en route to Bandar Abbas in southern Iran lost pieces of an engine after take-off, returning for a successful emergency landing. None of the 300 people on board were injured.[35]
  • On 19 March 2019 a Fokker 100 (registration: EP-IDG) had an emergency landing with its main landing gear not extended. Nobody was injured in the accident.[36]

Access

The airport is served by two stations of the Tehran Metro. One is for Terminals 1 and 2, and the other is for Terminals 4 and 6.[37]

See also

References

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

  1. ↑ "تاریخچه - فرودگاه بین‌المللی مهرآباد". Archived from the original on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
  2. ↑ "Traffic Figures". Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  3. ↑ R. Frank Futrell, “The Development of Base Facilities,” in The Army Air Forces in World War II, vol. 6, Men and Planes, Wesley Frank Craven and James Lea Cate, eds. (Washington, D.C., Office of Air Force History, new imprint, 1983), 157, 160; John D. Carter, “The Air Transport Command,” The Army Air Forces in World War II, vol. 7, Services Around the World, ed. Wesley Frank Craven and James Lea Cate, 42, 44–45 (Washington, D.C., Office of Air Force History, new imprint, 1983).
  4. ↑ Hinman Jr., Ralph (28 May 1975). "Iran Air forging new Mideast link". Press-Telegram. Retrieved 10 September 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ↑ "Travel notes". The Spokesman-Review. 6 June 1976. Retrieved 11 December 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ "Nonstops to Tehran". Daily News. 30 May 1976. Retrieved 10 September 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. 1 2 Dinmore, Guy (12 July 2000). "Tehran counts on airport to turn chapter in history". Financial Times. London. ProQuest 248934220.
  8. ↑ Field, Michael (1 April 1985). "Survey of Iran (22): Major Industrial and Infrastructure Projects". Financial Times. London – via NewsBank.
  9. ↑ Stroud, John (1980). Airports of the World. Putnam. pp. 172–174.
  10. ↑ Rizvi, Sajid (24 January 1979). "Army seizes Iran airports". Nashua Telegraph. Nashua, NH. United Press International. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  11. ↑ Apple Jr., R. W. (1 February 1979). "Khomeini arrives in Teheran, urges ouster of foreigners; Millions rally to greet him". The New York Times. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  12. ↑ "Iran, Iraq trade fire, Tehran airport is hit". Boston Globe. Associated Press. 23 September 1980. ProQuest 293995737.
  13. ↑ "Airlines and Aircraft Serving Tehran". Official Airline Guide: Worldwide Edition. 1 July 1983. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  14. 1 2 "Iran international flights switch to new airport". The Economic Times. 28 October 2007. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
  15. ↑ Spaeth, Andreas (17 June 2007). "Nach Diktatur verreist". Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung (in German). Archived from the original on 25 June 2007. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  16. ↑ "Iran: National airline to fly to Venezuela". Tampa Bay Times. 11 February 2007. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  17. ↑ Romero, Simon (3 March 2007). "Venezuela and Iran Strengthen Ties With Caracas-to-Tehran Flight". The New York Times. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  18. ↑ "La compañía venezolana Conviasa inaugura la ruta Caracas-Teherán con escala en Damasco". Notimérica (in Spanish). 7 October 2007. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  19. ↑ "Itinerarios". Conviasa (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 18 December 2007. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  20. ↑ "مسیرهای پروازی". Mehrabad Airport (in Persian). Archived from the original on 1 June 2023. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  21. ↑ "ارتباط با هما Archived June 23, 2012, at the Wayback Machine." IranAir. Retrieved on 12 January 2011. "آدرس : تهران ، جاده مخصوص كرج ، بلوار فرودگاه ،ادارات مركزي هما ، ساختمان پشتيباني ، طبقه دوم ، اتاق 217"
  22. ↑ "Contact IranAir Archived May 20, 2012, at the Wayback Machine." IranAir. Retrieved on 12 January 2011. "Address: No.221,Second Floor,Public Relations,Support Services BLd., IranAir H.Q.,Mehrabad Airport,Tehran,Iran."
  23. ↑ "Aircraft Accident/ Incident Report Form New Edition Archived March 31, 2016, at the Wayback Machine." Iranian Civil Aviation Organization. Retrieved on 12 January 2011. "vice president of civil Aviation in flight standard, Civil Aviation Organization, Mehrabad international airport, Tehran, Iran."
  24. ↑ "Contact Us." Iranian Airports Holding Company. Retrieved on 31 January 2012. "آدرس:تهران - فرودگاه مهرآباد -جنب ترمينال 2 - ساختمان مركزي شركت فرودگاه‌هاي كشور"
  25. ↑ "Imam Khomeini Intl. Airport ready to operate domestic flights". Tehran Times. 31 December 2019. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  26. 1 2 "Mehrabad Top Airport in Domestic Passenger Number". Financial Tribune. Tehran. 23 May 2023. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  27. ↑ Ranter, Harro. "ASN Aircraft accident Sud Aviation SE-210 Caravelle 10B3 OY-STK Tehran-Mehrabad Airport (THR)". aviation-safety.net. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  28. ↑ The Iranian History Article: The Roof Collapsed At Mehrabad Airport
  29. ↑ Accident description at the Aviation Safety Network
  30. ↑ Ranter, Harro. "ASN Aircraft accident Tupolev Tu-154M EP-ITD Tehran-Mehrabad Airport (THR)". aviation-safety.net. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  31. ↑ Ranter, Harro. "ASN Aircraft accident Boeing 707-3J9C EP-SHE Tehran-Mehrabad Airport (THR)". aviation-safety.net. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  32. ↑ Ranter, Harro. "ASN Aircraft accident Lockheed C-130E Hercules 5-8519 Tehran". aviation-safety.net. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  33. ↑ "Iran Air plane skids off runway, passengers safe". AFP. Archived from the original on 6 March 2008. Retrieved 5 January 2008.
  34. ↑ "At Least 39 Killed in Iran Plane Crash". Reuters. Retrieved 10 August 2014.
  35. ↑ "747 plane engine snaps off in Iran flight, no injuries". msn.com.
  36. ↑ Ranter, Harro. "ASN Aircraft accident Fokker 100 EP-IDG Tehran-Mehrabad Airport (THR)". aviation-safety.net. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
  37. ↑ "نقشه مترو". Tehran Urban & Suburban Railway Operation Co. Archived from the original on 27 August 2019. Retrieved 10 September 2023.

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