That airport was shut down summer last year by the Revolutionary Guards, seems like it’s working again. 20 flights a day currently (built for 12 million pax a year plus 200kt of cargo). It is about 30mls south of Tehran (in the desert, the middle of nowhere) and looks a bit like CDG. One remarkable thing is, that it sports a 14.000ft runway.
I think Iran Air is currently the only airline operating there. And I have no idea how long Mehrabad remains open for international traffic (has about 9 million pax and about 120kt cargo per year).
http://www.irna.ir/en/news/view/line-22/0505030031012318.htm
http://news.ft.com/cms/s/76a8e306-bb74-11d9-911a-00000e2511c8.html
By: EAL_KING - 4th May 2005 at 22:07
seems its already hit bad water with safety fears and uk and canada warned its citizens to avoid it due to unsafe runway.
Iran’s new airport in safety fear
Iran’s Imam Khomeini International airport opened on Saturday
Iran hit back against fears raised by Britain and Canada about the safety of its new airport named after the father of its revolution, Imam Khomeini.
Britain and Canada warned citizens not to use the airport, because of fears there were irrigation channels beneath the runway that would make it unsafe.
But on Tuesday Iran’s foreign ministry described the two countries’ travel advisories as “very dangerous”.
It also claimed Britain had asked for the name of the airport to be changed.
Britain said reports it wanted a name change were “nonsense” but local newspapers reported that Iranian students were planning to protest outside the local British Embassy over the issue.
Technical concerns
Meanwhile, the British Embassy in Tehran is said to be seeking assurances from the Iranian government and the International Civil Aviation Organisation that any problems with the irrigation channels would be sorted out.
Some reports also said Emirates Airlines had a technical problem with the refuelling facilities at the new airport and flew one of its planes to the old Tehran airport to refuel.
However, Reuters reported that Dubai-based Emirates said on Saturday it believes the airport is safe.
Flights to and from Dubai began on Saturday at the new airport near Tehran. More routes are expected to be transferred there from Tehran’s Mehrabad International Airport in the coming months, according to Reuters.
The airport is no stranger to controversy. Last year it opened, then was closed down hours later by the revolutionary guards.
The government said at the time, the Turkish-Austrian consortium, TAV, chosen to build and run it, had links to the Israelis and posed a security risk.
By: EAL_KING - 4th May 2005 at 22:07
seems its already hit bad water with safety fears and uk and canada warned its citizens to avoid it due to unsafe runway.
Iran’s new airport in safety fear
Iran’s Imam Khomeini International airport opened on Saturday
Iran hit back against fears raised by Britain and Canada about the safety of its new airport named after the father of its revolution, Imam Khomeini.
Britain and Canada warned citizens not to use the airport, because of fears there were irrigation channels beneath the runway that would make it unsafe.
But on Tuesday Iran’s foreign ministry described the two countries’ travel advisories as “very dangerous”.
It also claimed Britain had asked for the name of the airport to be changed.
Britain said reports it wanted a name change were “nonsense” but local newspapers reported that Iranian students were planning to protest outside the local British Embassy over the issue.
Technical concerns
Meanwhile, the British Embassy in Tehran is said to be seeking assurances from the Iranian government and the International Civil Aviation Organisation that any problems with the irrigation channels would be sorted out.
Some reports also said Emirates Airlines had a technical problem with the refuelling facilities at the new airport and flew one of its planes to the old Tehran airport to refuel.
However, Reuters reported that Dubai-based Emirates said on Saturday it believes the airport is safe.
Flights to and from Dubai began on Saturday at the new airport near Tehran. More routes are expected to be transferred there from Tehran’s Mehrabad International Airport in the coming months, according to Reuters.
The airport is no stranger to controversy. Last year it opened, then was closed down hours later by the revolutionary guards.
The government said at the time, the Turkish-Austrian consortium, TAV, chosen to build and run it, had links to the Israelis and posed a security risk.
By: rdc1000 - 3rd May 2005 at 10:49
One remarkable thing is, that it sports a 14.000ft runway.
http://www.irna.ir/en/news/view/line-22/0505030031012318.htm
http://news.ft.com/cms/s/76a8e306-bb74-11d9-911a-00000e2511c8.html
Not so remarkable really. Many Middle Eastern airports have very long runways due to the temperatures experienced. Aircraft need more runway length when taking off in hot conditions. Add to that the altitude of Tehran and aircraft will also need longer runways. In total these factors come together to form ‘Hot and High’ runway conditions, in which aircraft are operating in less dense air, effecting their runway performance.
Although there are some shorter runways in the Middle East there are some near to or greater than this length…
Doha 15,000ft
Riyadh 13780ft
Also the lengths of runways in Iran is very long generally. ..
Shiraz 14,219ft
Zahedan 14,000ft
By: rdc1000 - 3rd May 2005 at 10:49
One remarkable thing is, that it sports a 14.000ft runway.
http://www.irna.ir/en/news/view/line-22/0505030031012318.htm
http://news.ft.com/cms/s/76a8e306-bb74-11d9-911a-00000e2511c8.html
Not so remarkable really. Many Middle Eastern airports have very long runways due to the temperatures experienced. Aircraft need more runway length when taking off in hot conditions. Add to that the altitude of Tehran and aircraft will also need longer runways. In total these factors come together to form ‘Hot and High’ runway conditions, in which aircraft are operating in less dense air, effecting their runway performance.
Although there are some shorter runways in the Middle East there are some near to or greater than this length…
Doha 15,000ft
Riyadh 13780ft
Also the lengths of runways in Iran is very long generally. ..
Shiraz 14,219ft
Zahedan 14,000ft
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May 3, 2005 at 10:13 am