TEHRAN— Mahan Air (W5), one of Iran’s largest private airlines, is suspending flights to Oman and Turkey, reducing its international network as new U.S. sanctions place additional pressure on Iran’s aviation sector.
The airline’s Tehran services to Muscat ended on September 17, while flights to Istanbul (IST) and Ankara (ESB) are scheduled to stop from September 21.
Mahan Air attributed the cancellations to decisions by the relevant aviation authorities in Oman and Turkey rather than directly linking them to U.S. sanctions.
The suspensions follow Washington’s September 8 action targeting Iran’s aviation industry and increasing restrictions on companies that provide services to Iranian carriers.
Mahan Air Cuts Routes
The airline notified Iranian travel agencies that its Tehran-Muscat service would stop from September 17 until further notice.
Its Tehran-Istanbul and Tehran-Ankara routes will follow, with the final scheduled flights on September 20 before the suspensions take effect the next day.
The measures also come after Mahan Air announced the suspension of flights to Georgia, which is scheduled to take effect on September 21.
The carrier has continued to operate some international services, but the latest route losses further reduce its access to nearby international markets.
Turkey and Oman have agreed to halt Mahan Air flights to their territories following discussions with the United States, according to Reuters.
Turkey’s action specifically affects Mahan Air, rather than representing a wider suspension of all Iranian airlines operating to the country.
US Sanctions Expand
The route suspensions came less than two weeks after the U.S. Treasury Department announced its latest aviation-related sanctions against Iran.
On September 8, the Treasury sanctioned 36 targets, including 27 Iranian airlines, and accused networks linked to the sector of helping Iran obtain aircraft, aviation technology and other equipment.
Mahan Air was already under U.S. sanctions, having been designated in 2011 over alleged support for Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Qods Force.
The latest measures also targeted companies in Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia and other countries that the Treasury said had supported Mahan Air or Iran’s aviation procurement network.
The Treasury has also suspended several previous aviation authorizations, including permissions covering certain services and safety-related support involving U.S.-origin aircraft, NY Times reported.
The changes mean foreign companies working with Iran’s aviation sector face additional U.S. sanctions exposure and, in some cases, must seek specific authorization.
Iran’s Aviation Isolation Continues
The pressure comes as Iran’s aviation industry continues to operate under long-standing restrictions that have limited access to Western aircraft, spare parts and maintenance services.
The latest measures could make international operations more difficult because airlines depend on airports, ground handlers, sales agents, maintenance providers and other companies outside their home markets.
The impact extends beyond Mahan Air’s passengers because international aviation provides an important link between Iran and neighboring countries.
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