Imam Khomeini International Airport IKA

Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKA) lies about 35 kilometres southwest of Tehran and is Iran’s main international gateway. All of the capital’s international flights use it, while most domestic flights leave from the city’s other airport, Mehrabad. It handled about 7.3 million passengers in the fiscal year ending March 2019, placing it among the busiest in the country. Much of Iran’s airline industry is based here, including Iran Air and Mahan Air.

Terminals

According to Wikipedia there are two terminals: Terminal 1 and the Salaam International Terminal, opened in 2019. Check your ticket for which one your airline uses, as the split can change.

Airlines and destinations

The major Iranian carriers operate here, with domestic routes and international destinations, plus some foreign airlines. The foreign carrier offering depends heavily on the political situation and changes often, so check the current timetable.

Services

The airport has shops, restaurants and lounges, as the airport listing notes. There are also two chain hotels on site, a Novotel and an Ibis, opened in 2015, handy for a layover or an early flight.

Tips

Don’t confuse IKA with Mehrabad: if you connect between an international and a domestic flight, expect a long road transfer between the two. Arrive with time to spare for international flights, as departure checks can take a while.