Iran’s Civil Aviation Organisation has announced the partial reopening of the country’s airspace effective from 07:00 a.m. on 18 April 2026, following comprehensive security and safety assessments conducted in the wake of the recent US-Israeli military campaign against the Islamic Republic.
According to an official statement from the organisation, international transit routes through Iran’s eastern airspace have been restored, permitting foreign commercial and transit flights to once again traverse Iranian skies. The decision was reached following a thorough review conducted by Iran’s national civil-military coordination committee, which was convened specifically to evaluate conditions on the ground and in the air following the conclusion of hostilities.
Authorities further indicated that the resumption of domestic airport operations would proceed on a gradual basis, contingent upon the technical readiness of both military and civilian aviation infrastructure across the country. The phased approach reflects the scale of disruption caused by the conflict and underscores the complexity of restoring full civil aviation functionality in a post-war environment.
The partial reopening marks a significant step in Iran’s efforts to restore normalcy to its national airspace, which had been closed or severely restricted during the period of active military engagement. The move is expected to have immediate implications for regional air traffic management, as Iran’s airspace constitutes a critical corridor for flights connecting Central Asia, the Middle East, and beyond.
No timeline has yet been provided for the full restoration of all domestic routes and airport services, with officials emphasising that safety assessments will continue to guide the pace of recovery across both sectors.
Find more details at Sputnik International.