Birjand International Airport XBJ

Birjand Airport (XBJ) serves Birjand, capital of South Khorasan province in eastern Iran, a dry, desert region. It is one of the country’s oldest airports: it began operating in 1933 and its first passenger terminal opened in 1976. It became international in 2008 with a flight to Medina. It has two runways, one of which was extended to 4,000 metres in 2009.

Terminals

There is a single, small passenger terminal, with arrivals and departures in the same building.

Airlines and destinations

Airlines include Iran Air, Mahan Air, Pars Air, Iran Airtour and Yazd Airways. The main routes are Tehran (Mehrabad) and Mashhad, and during the pilgrimage season there are flights to Jeddah and Medina.

Tips

Birjand is far from the country’s main population centres, so flying often saves many hours on the road from Tehran or Mashhad. Flights are few and schedules change, so confirm yours with the airline. Foreign bank cards generally do not work in Iran, so carry cash.