ORAT Concluded at Tehran's Newly-Built Salam Airport Terminal

terminal to test the operational flow of the terminal in the presence of Minister of Roads and Urban Development Mohammad Eslami and local aviation authorities.

Salam Terminal-Gallery, with an annual capacity of five million passengers, has been mostly designed and constructed by Iranian engineers.

It also showcases the artworks of several well-known Iranian artists.

"Employing local workforce, technology and material helped us save at least $3 million in the construction process," says Ali Rostami, the CEO of IKAC.

Currently, IKIA only carries out international flights. But plans are underway to transfer a portion of domestic flights to Imam Khomeini International Airport after the inauguration of Salam Terminal.

Imam Khomeini International Airport is expected to handle domestic flights between 12 am and 5 am, when Mehrabad Airport is barred from operating flights

The measure is aimed at attracting more foreign tourists to Iranian cities. "Shiraz, Isfahan and Tabriz airports officials are keen to operate direct flights to IKIA," Siavash Amirmokri, the head of Iran Airport Company told IRNA.

However, "the final decision should be made by airline companies after studying the profitability of operating the flights."

Imam Khomeini International Airport is expected to handle domestic flights between 12 am and 5 am, when Mehrabad Airport is barred from operating flights.

Pointing to IKAC's 30-km distance from Tehran, Amirmokri said, "We first need to make sure that transferring domestic flights to IKAC will not have a negative impact on the demand for domestic flights."

IKAC presently has a passenger capacity of around five million per year. However, in the fiscal 2017-18, the airport hosted over nine million passengers.

Meanwhile, plans are underway to build another terminal at IKIA airport.

Iranshahr Terminal’s first development phase has been designed to handle 25 million passengers per year and will reach 110 million passengers annually upon the completion of its third and final phase.

Imam Khomeini International Airport registered 47,446 takeoffs and landings in the last Iranian fiscal year that ended March 20, 2019 to register a 19% decline.

More than 7.27 million passengers and around 141,704 tons of cargos were transported from the airport during the period to be ranked third on the list of Iran’s busiest airports. The figures show a 19% and 14% decline YOY.

Tehran’s Mehrabad International Airport was the busiest Iranian airport last year with 126,030 takeoffs and landings, registering a 12% fall YOY.

More than 14.82 million passengers as well as around 102.949 tons of cargo were handled at this airport to register 15% decline each YOY.

IKIA has the biggest share of international flights operated in Iran and Mehrabad the biggest in terms of domestic ones.

Tehran's Imam Khomeini International Airport has been distinguished as the third fastest-growing major airport in the world.

A study by Routes Online shows the airport grew in terms of passenger numbers by 48.6% during the first half of 2018 to 3.93 million, helped by Ata Airlines, following the rise in frequencies to Istanbul Ataturk.

Operated by Iran Airports Company, IKIA is located 30 kilometers southwest of Iran's capital city Tehran.