Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani International Airport KER

Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani International Airport (KER) serves Kerman in southeastern Iran, at about 1,750 metres above sea level. It opened to commercial traffic in 1970 and took its current name in 2017, after the death of former president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani; it was previously Kerman International Airport. It is a small-to-medium regional airport, with around 850,000 passengers in 2017, used for both civil and military purposes. It serves a region of desert, oases and historic sites that would otherwise mean long road journeys.

Terminals

There is a single passenger terminal, with arrivals and departures in the same building, so there are no transfers between terminals.

Airlines and destinations

Most flights are domestic, operated by Iranian carriers such as Mahan Air, Iran Air and Caspian Airlines. Among international services, flydubai has flown to Dubai, and Iran Air runs seasonal flights to Jeddah and Medina during the pilgrimage. Mahan Air has a crew training centre at the airport. Routes change often.

Services

The airport listing mentions shops and places to eat in the terminal, but facilities are those of a regional airport: don’t expect the variety of a large one. Hotels and most restaurants are in the city.

Tips

Check the current timetable, especially if you need an international flight, as those routes are scarce and change. Avoid photographing the military areas of the site.