Iranians are currently facing difficult travels due to new US sanctions against the aviation industry in the country. These sanctions have caused flights to be suddenly canceled, and travelers feel restricted in their attempts to leave their country.
Travel Challenges from Iran
Mitra, a 49-year-old woman who intended to travel to Paris with her brother via Istanbul, is now searching for a long route to reach Turkey. She said: "Some airlines are still selling tickets, but they are constantly being canceled. It really makes us feel completely trapped."
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Mitra has paid nearly $75 for a trip to Tabriz and then must travel several hours by land to the border. She and her brother will stay in a hotel in Van, Turkey, as waiting at the border can be long and chaotic.
Impact of Sanctions on Iran's Aviation Industry
Iranians have been living under foreign sanctions and internal restrictions on their personal freedoms for years. Last week, the United States intensified restrictions on Iran's aviation industry, adding to the problems faced by travelers. Passengers who had booked tickets for destinations in the Middle East, such as the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Oman, and Turkey, faced sudden cancellations.
A reporter at Tehran International Airport reported chaos after a flight to Dubai was canceled, with passengers seeking answers from staff in long lines and others trying to retrieve their luggage.
Iran has long been the target of sanctions, and these sanctions appear to have severely impacted the aviation industry. According to officials, one flight had to turn back mid-air due to not being allowed to pass through Turkmenistan's airspace.
Despite these restrictions, some travelers like Shirin, 31, have managed to travel to Istanbul. She said: "This situation is very strange and concerning because there are fewer flights than before, and the likelihood of cancellations is very high."
Iran is facing multiple challenges in travel due to sanctions and existing restrictions. While there are routes to Afghanistan, Pakistan, China, Russia, Malaysia, and Thailand, other travelers are encountering difficulties in finding alternative solutions.
Mitra and her brother now have to spend hours on the road and in a hotel, incurring additional costs they had not initially planned for to reach Paris. She said: "Accepting that getting to a place that should be a simple flight has turned into such a long and difficult journey is hard."
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