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Airportist Scores and guides are editorial content. Always verify live rules, terminals, and operational alerts with official airport and airline sources.

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THROIII

Mehrabad International Airport

Tehran, IR

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Tehran Mehrabad International Airport

Tehran, Iran · Middle East

Iran's busiest airport, in western Tehran, with about 13.75 million passengers in 1403. It is mainly a domestic hub; most international flights use Imam Khomeini (IKA), and Mehrabad runs only a few trial international and pilgrim flights. Four terminals are in use, linked to Tehran Metro Line 4 by two stations. A paid 24-hour CIP in Terminal 1 is the only lounge option. Germany warns against all travel to Iran, and EASA advises EU airlines to avoid Iranian airspace.

Airportist Score

4.6/ 10

Rough

Ease of use5.5
Comfort & amenities4.5
Food & retail4.0
Ground access6.0
Reliability3.0
Lounges4.0

How the score works

An editorial 0–10 score. The overall is exactly the weighted sum of six traveler categories — not a Google rating and not a poll.

25%Ease of use — Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.
20%Comfort & amenities — Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.
15%Food & retail — Food and retail quality and variety.
15%Ground access — Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.
15%Reliability — Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.
10%Lounges — Worth-it density and access quality.

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Enter your flight for a door-to-door plan: when to leave, security, the lounge you can use and your gate. No account needed.

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Tehran Mehrabad International Airport

Tehran, Iran · Middle East

Iran's busiest airport, in western Tehran, with about 13.75 million passengers in 1403. It is mainly a domestic hub; most international flights use Imam Khomeini (IKA), and Mehrabad runs only a few trial international and pilgrim flights. Four terminals are in use, linked to Tehran Metro Line 4 by two stations. A paid 24-hour CIP in Terminal 1 is the only lounge option. Germany warns against all travel to Iran, and EASA advises EU airlines to avoid Iranian airspace.

Airportist Score

4.6/ 10

Rough

Ease of use5.5
Comfort & amenities4.5
Food & retail4.0
Ground access6.0
Reliability3.0
Lounges4.0

How the score works

An editorial 0–10 score. The overall is exactly the weighted sum of six traveler categories — not a Google rating and not a poll.

25%Ease of use — Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.
20%Comfort & amenities — Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.
15%Food & retail — Food and retail quality and variety.
15%Ground access — Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.
15%Reliability — Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.
10%Lounges — Worth-it density and access quality.

Compare THR with another airport

Typical security
20 min
editorial average, not live
Fastest to city
About 30–60 minutes to the city centre depending on traffic (estimate)
Airport taxi or ride-hailing
Cheapest to city
Tehran Metro Line 4 (airport branch)
Not verified · About 45 minutes to central Tehran with one change (estimate)
Lounge
1
On time
65%
of departures
Terminals
4
in use: Terminal 1, Terminal 2, Terminal 4 (departures) and Terminal 6 (arrivals)

The lounge at THR
THR security wait times

5 photos

THRGuide

Most important tips

Know before you go

A compact traveler cheat sheet for timing, terminals, food, and disruption checks.

Timing

Check your flight and airport on the day

Confirm both the flight and the Tehran airport on the day.

Germany's Foreign Office warns that renewed fighting could close Iranian airspace and cancel flights at short notice. Tehran has two airports, and most international flights leave from Imam Khomeini (IKA), not Mehrabad, so check which airport your ticket shows and reconfirm with the airline on the day.

Terminal

Your airline decides the terminal

T1/T2 share one metro stop; T4/T6 share the other.

Terminal 1: Kish Air, Zagros, Varesh, Chabahar and Arvan. Terminal 2: Iran Air, Iran Airtour, ATA, Qeshm Air, Meraj, Karun and AsaJet. Terminal 4 (departures) and Terminal 6 (arrivals): Mahan, Aseman, Taban, Caspian, Pouya, Saha, Sepehran, Pars, FlyPersia and Yazd Air. Allocations change, so check with your airline.

Food

Restaurants and cafés in every terminal

Basic food in all terminals; prices not verified.

The terminals have restaurants, cafés, fast food and buffets, plus prayer rooms and banks. HonestAirport could not verify opening hours or prices, and travel sites say prices are higher than in the city. Alcohol is banned in Iran.

Status

Only a paid CIP, no lounge programmes

Paid CIP in Terminal 1 only; status cards don't get you in.

There is no Priority Pass or airline lounge. A paid CIP lounge on the upper floor of Terminal 1 is open 24 hours and serves passengers of all terminals, arriving or departing. Book it through an Iranian agency in advance; non-Iranians pay a higher rate.

Live conditions

Right now at THR

Security waits and operational status from official feeds, where the airport publishes them.

Honest verdict

Who this airport works for

Best for

Domestic flights across Iran
Metro access close to central Tehran
Paid 24-hour CIP lounge for all terminals

Watch out for

Germany's travel warning and request to leave Iran; risk of arbitrary arrest
Airspace can close and flights can be cancelled without warning
Most international flights use IKA, not Mehrabad
Foreign cards don't work; bring cash
No photography: the airfield is shared with the air force

Airportist Score

Why this score

Overall is the published weighted sum of six categories. No holistic fudge on top.

Ease of use · 25%

Wayfinding, security wait, and layout.

5.5

Comfort & amenities · 20%

Seating, Wi-Fi, cleanliness, and quiet.

4.5

Food & retail · 15%

Food and retail quality and variety.

4.0

Ground access · 15%

Transit, taxi, and parking to the city.

6.0

Reliability · 15%

Delays, cancellations, and weather resilience.

3.0

Lounges · 10%

Worth-it density and access quality.

4.0

Key stats

Editorial reference figures, not live readings.

Annual passengers

13,750,021 (Iranian year 1403, Mar 2024–Mar 2025, Iran Airports Company)

Terminals

4 in use: Terminal 1, Terminal 2, Terminal 4 (departures) and Terminal 6 (arrivals)

On-time departures

65%

Typical security

20 min

Guide quick facts

From the editorial guide for THR.

Updated Nov 3, 2026

Tehran Mehrabad International Airport (IATA THR, ICAO OIII) is in western Tehran near Azadi Square, about 10 km from the city centre, at an elevation of about 1,208 m. Local time is Asia/Tehran (UTC+3:30).
It is Iran's busiest airport. In Iranian year 1403 (March 2024 to March 2025) it handled 13,750,021 passengers on 115,773 flights, according to Iran Airports Company.
Mehrabad is mainly Tehran's domestic hub. Most international flights use Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKA) south-west of the city.
In September 2026 the airport's CEO said a few international flights were running on a trial basis, alongside pilgrim flights to Najaf. There is no international terminal; international passengers are handled through the CIP.
Four terminals are in use: Terminal 1, Terminal 2, Terminal 4 (departures) and Terminal 6 (arrivals). Your airline decides which one you use.
The airfield is shared with the Iranian Air Force. Germany's Foreign Office warns against all travel to Iran and urges German nationals to leave the country.

17 official sources

https://www.mehrnews.com/news/6454622/
https://www.ecc.news/fa/news/229470/jabhjayy-40-mylywn-w-750-hzar-msafr-dr-frwdgahhay-kshwr-dr-sal-1403
https://www.chn.ir/transportation-economics/57222/
https://www.khabarfoori.com/%D8%A8%D8%AE%D8%B4-%D8%A7%D9%82%D8%AA%D8%B5%D8%A7%D8%AF%DB%8C-145/3243673-%D9%BE%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%B2%D9%87%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%AE%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%AC%DB%8C-%D9%85%D9%87%D8%B1%D8%A2%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%87-%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%AF
https://www.booking.ir/airports/thr/
https://www.booking.ir/cip/thr/
https://www.cip.aero/fa/airportservices/cip/mehrabad
https://www.eavar.com/cip-service/mehrabad/
https://www.varancip.com/mehrabad-airport-cip/
https://www.kojaro.com/airport/210527-mehrabad-international-airport/
https://www.tinn.ir/%D8%A8%D8%AE%D8%B4-%D8%B4%D8%B1%DA%A9%D8%AA-%D9%81%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%AF%DA%AF%D8%A7%D9%87-%D9%87%D8%A7-%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%88%D8%A8%D8%B1%DB%8C-%D9%87%D9%88%D8%A7%DB%8C%DB%8C-%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-44/308477-%D9%81%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%AF%DA%AF%D8%A7%D9%87-%D9%85%D9%87%D8%B1%D8%A2%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%AF-%D9%87%D9%88%D8%B4%D9%85%D9%86%D8%AF%D8%AA%D8%B1-%D8%B4%D8%AF
https://intoday.ir/dopalbox-mehrabad-airport/
https://safarpin.com/%d9%87%d8%aa%d9%84-%d9%81%d8%b1%d9%88%d8%af%da%af%d8%a7%d9%87-%d9%85%d9%87%d8%b1%d8%a2%d8%a8%d8%a7%d8%af-%d8%aa%d9%87%d8%b1%d8%a7%d9%86/
https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/de/service/laender/iran-node/iransicherheit-202396
https://www.easa.europa.eu/en/domains/air-operations/czibs/czib-2026-04-r2
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mehrabad_International_Airport
https://fa.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D9%81%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%AF%DA%AF%D8%A7%D9%87_%D8%A8%DB%8C%D9%86%E2%80%8C%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%84%D9%84%DB%8C_%D9%85%D9%87%D8%B1%D8%A2%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%AF

Full guide

Explore the THR guide

Each section answers one trip question in depth.

Map
Mehrabad International Airport, the Tehran city center, and Tehran Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKA)
City center1 other airport
View Map
Getting There
3 ways into the city, compared on time, cost, and luggage.
Fastest: Airport taxi or ride-hailingCheapest: Tehran Metro Line 4 (airport branch)
View Getting There
Lounges
1 lounge with access rules, hours, and verdicts.
CIP Lounge
View Lounges
Traveler Tips
Tehran has two airports. Mehrabad (THR) is mainly domestic; most international flights use Imam Khomeini (IKA), far south-west of the city. Check the airport code on your ticket.
10 tips & hacks
View Traveler Tips
Amenities
6 rated amenities — food, Wi-Fi, quiet spots, family, and sleep.
Paid CIP lounge (Terminal 1)Restaurants & cafés
View Amenities
Reviews
Editorial and traveler reviews — what people actually complain about.
View Reviews

Mehrabad International Airport, the Tehran city center, and Tehran Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKA)

This airport THR
City center Tehran
Other airport IKA

Terminal navigation guide

Terminal-change and gate-area notes pulled from the markdown guide.

From Terminals & Navigation

Four terminals are in use. Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 handle both departures and arrivals. Mahan, Aseman and the other airlines listed below depart from Terminal 4 and arrive at Terminal 6.
Terminal 1: Kish Air, Zagros, Varesh, Chabahar and Arvan. Terminal 2: Iran Air, Iran Airtour, ATA, Qeshm Air, Meraj, Karun and AsaJet. Terminals 4 and 6: Mahan, Aseman, Taban, Caspian, Pouya, Saha, Sepehran, Pars, FlyPersia and Yazd Air. Check with your airline, as allocations change.
Terminals 3 and 5, once used for Hajj flights, are closed.
The terminals have prayer rooms, banks and ATMs (Iranian cards only), shops and waiting halls.
Free public Wi-Fi covers the airport. Iran Airports Company says its free data allowance was increased fivefold in November 2025, but many foreign sites are blocked.

Ground transport guide

City-transfer, rideshare, train, and parking guidance from the markdown guide.

From Ground Transport & Parking

Metro: a branch of Tehran Metro Line 4 serves the airport, with one station for Terminals 1 and 2 and another for Terminals 4 and 6. Change at Bimeh station on Line 4. HonestAirport could not verify current operating hours.
Taxi: airport taxis and Iranian ride-hailing apps serve all terminals. Airport taxis can be booked by phone or online. Fares weren't verified.
Bus: HonestAirport couldn't confirm a current city bus route to the terminals, so use the metro or a taxi.
Parking: a multi-storey car park is opposite Terminals 1 and 2, and open car parks serve Terminals 4 and 6. Fees weren't verified.
Imam Khomeini Airport (IKA) is a long road trip away. Allow plenty of time if you're connecting between the two airports.

Ride to Tehran

Pickup at THR. Where the app supports it, dropoff is set to Tehran city center for a live price.

To city center

Tehran

~6.9 km

Typical fare

See app

Live quotes open in the ride app

Fixed-price transfers

GetTransfer quotes Kiwitaxi quotes

Compare prepaid private transfers to Tehran — useful overnight, with luggage, or when you want a locked-in fare before you land.

Cheapest

Tehran Metro Line 4 (airport branch)

Two stations: Terminals 1 and 2, and Terminals 4 and 6. Change at Bimeh station on Line 4.

Time to city

About 45 minutes to central Tehran with one change (estimate)

Cost

Not verified

Tip: Pick the station that matches your airline's terminal.

FastestBest for luggage

Airport taxi or ride-hailing

Airport taxis can be booked by phone or online; Iranian ride-hailing apps also serve the terminals.

Time to city

About 30–60 minutes to the city centre depending on traffic (estimate)

Cost

Not published; agree the fare first

Tip: Germany's Foreign Office recommends pre-booked taxis over street taxis.

Terminal car parks

Multi-storey car park opposite Terminals 1 and 2; open car parks serve Terminals 4 and 6.

Time to city

About 30–60 minutes to the city centre depending on traffic (estimate)

Cost

Not verified

Tip: Park on the side of your airline's terminal.

Check your lounge access at THR

Sign in, save your cards, airline status, and lounge programs once, and we'll check them against every lounge.

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Depends

Terminal 1 (serves all terminals)Upper floor, Terminal 1

Mehrabad's only lounge-style option: a paid 24-hour CIP on the upper floor of Terminal 1 for passengers of all terminals.

Access: Day pass

Hours: 24 hours

Amenities: Check-in and baggage handled by staff · Car to and from the aircraft · Buffet · High-speed internet · Smoking room · Private suites (extra charge)

Best for: Skipping terminal queues · Early or late flights

Full access guide

Lounge & amenity notes

Lounge, food, and quiet-spot picks pulled from the markdown guide.

From Lounges, Food & Amenities

Lounges: there is no Priority Pass, alliance or airline lounge. The only option is the paid CIP lounge on the upper floor of Terminal 1, open 24 hours. It serves passengers of all terminals, so go to Terminal 1 whichever terminal your flight uses.
In the CIP, staff handle check-in and bags. It has a buffet with hot and cold drinks, high-speed internet and a smoking room, and a car takes you to and from the aircraft. Private suites cost extra. Book through an Iranian agency in advance; non-Iranians pay a higher rate. Prices vary between agencies, so HonestAirport doesn't list them.
Food: every terminal has restaurants, cafés, fast food or buffets. Opening hours and prices aren't published.
Sleeping: Dopal Box sleeping pods (bed, light, power sockets and a small desk) are in Terminals 1 and 2 and can be booked by the hour. A two-star airport hotel stands behind Terminal 2 next to the control tower, a few minutes' walk from Terminals 1 and 2.

good

Paid CIP lounge (Terminal 1)

Has Lounge

Upper floor of Terminal 1, open 24 hours, for passengers of all terminals; booked in advance through agencies.

basic

Restaurants & cafés

Food

Restaurants, cafés, fast food and buffets in the terminals; hours and prices not published.

basic

Free Wi-Fi

Fast WiFi

Free public Wi-Fi, with a data allowance increased fivefold in November 2025; many foreign sites are blocked in Iran.

basic

Dopal Box sleeping pods

Sleep Options

Single-person pods with bed, light, power sockets and desk in Terminals 1 and 2, booked by the hour.

good

Metro stations

Easy Transport

Two Tehran Metro stations on a Line 4 branch: Terminals 1 and 2, and Terminals 4 and 6.

good

Prayer rooms

Family Friendly

Prayer rooms in the terminals.

Editorial guide tricks

The markdown guide's highest-signal tactics before the data-backed tips below.

From Best Airport Tricks & Hacks

Tehran has two airports. Mehrabad (THR) is mainly domestic; most international flights use Imam Khomeini (IKA), far south-west of the city. Check the airport code on your ticket.
Bring enough cash (euros or US dollars) for your whole stay. Because of sanctions, foreign credit and debit cards don't work in Iran.
Expect restricted internet: many sites, apps and VPNs are blocked, and using an unapproved VPN is a criminal offence.
Iran Air has been under EU sanctions since October 2024. EU nationals may not pay sanctioned airlines, even indirectly for a ticket, so check who operates your flight before you buy.
Germany's Foreign Office recommends pre-booked taxis over street taxis.

01

SecurityTraveler Tips & Hacks

Don't take photos

Photography in public buildings and near military sites can lead to arrest.

Mehrabad shares its airfield with the Iranian Air Force. Germany's Foreign Office advises against taking photos or video in public buildings such as airports, and warns that devices may be searched.

Pro

Avoids serious legal risk

Watch-out

No airport photos

02

TransportTraveler Tips & Hacks

Take the metro if you're travelling light

Two metro stations serve the terminals; change at Bimeh on Line 4.

Get off at the Terminals 1 and 2 station or the Terminals 4 and 6 station, depending on your airline. Airport taxis and ride-hailing apps are the alternative with heavy bags.

Pro

Avoids Tehran's road traffic

Watch-out

One change; operating hours not verified

03

LoungeTraveler Tips & Hacks

Book the CIP ahead

The only lounge-style option; no Priority Pass or airline lounge.

The CIP is on the upper floor of Terminal 1 and is open 24 hours for passengers of all terminals. Staff handle check-in and bags. Book through an Iranian agency in advance.

Pro

Skips the main terminal queues

Watch-out

Paid; non-Iranians pay more

04

LayoverTraveler Tips & Hacks

Don't plan a quick IKA connection

Most international flights leave from Imam Khomeini, a long drive away.

Mehrabad is mainly domestic, so international trips often mean transferring to IKA by road. Allow plenty of time and reconfirm both flights, because airspace closures can happen without warning.

Pro

Avoids missed connections

Watch-out

Long transfer

05

FamilyTraveler Tips & Hacks

Carry enough cash

Foreign credit and debit cards don't work in Iran.

Bring euros or US dollars for your whole stay. Germany's Foreign Office says there's no way to withdraw money in Iran with foreign cards.

Pro

Avoids getting stuck without money

Watch-out

Means carrying cash

Entry requirements

Iran (IR)

Sign in and add a passport to see the entry requirement for Iran.

Passports are saved in profile settings. Check the official site before you travel.

Published alerts

Editorial profile notes — not a live alert feed. Live operations are on Overview and in the panel below.

Published alerts

Typical operations snapshot — editorial, not live news. File dated Nov 3, 2026.

Moderate

Germany's Foreign Office (as of 3 November 2026) warns against all travel to Iran and urges German nationals to leave. It says renewed fighting could close the airspace and cancel flights at any time.EASA CZIB-2026-04-R2 advises EU operators not to fly in the Tehran FIR at any altitude; it is valid until 16 November 2026.Mehrabad has no international terminal; its few international flights run on a trial basis through the CIP. Most international flights use Imam Khomeini (IKA). Iran Air has been under EU sanctions since October 2024.On-time share, delays, cancellations, security wait and travel times are HonestAirport estimates; no punctuality data is published for THR.

Typical delay mix from the same editorial snapshot — not a live feed. Current operations are on Overview.

Typical departure delays25 min · 30%

Typical arrival delays25 min · 30%

Typical cancellations0 min · 8%

Live operations

Live operational signals from Flighty or FAA, plus checkpoint waits where airports publish them.

Traveler reviews

What travelers say

Write a review

Alternatives

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