TEHRAN - Iran airport traffic has experienced a 14 percent fall in the previous Iranian calendar year 1397 (ended March 20) from a year earlier suffering from escalating costs in the country.

Iran Airports Company registered 427,803 takeoffs and landings in 1397, which shows a 14% decrease compared with the previous year, Eghtesad Online reported.

More than 51.67 million passengers and 515,228 tons of cargos were transported during the period, indicating a 16% and 14% decline respectively year on year, according to data compiled by the IAC.

The latest IAC report also shows 357,411 takeoffs and landings were made by domestic flights, down 13% compared with the year before. More than 41.43 million passengers and 315,566 tons of cargo were transported domestically, both indicating a 15% decline year on year.

Regarding international flights, 70,392 takeoffs and landings were registered, down 19% year on year. A total of more than 10.24 million passengers and 199,661 tons of cargo were transported to and from overseas destinations, posting 19% and 13% decrease respectively compared with the year before, the report said.

Tehran’s Mehrabad International Airport was the busiest Iranian airport last year with 126,030 takeoffs and landings, registering a 12% of year-on-year fall. The airport also handled 14.82 million passengers and 102.949 tons of cargo, registering a 15% decline.

Mashhad International Airport was the second busiest airport with 60,335 takeoffs and landings, indicating an 18% decrease. It transported more than 8.82 million passengers and 86,086 tons of cargos, indicating a 16% and 9% decline respectively year-on-year.

Imam Khomeini International Airport registered 47,446 takeoffs and landings to register a 19% fall, while transporting more than 7.27 million passengers and around 141,704 tons of cargos to be ranked third on the list of Iran’s busiest airports. The figures show a 19% and 14% decline year on year.

Iran Airports Company is an arm of the Ministry of Transport and Urban Development, which manages 54 airports across the country.

Back in January, Leyla Ajdari, a tourism official, announced the country’s outbound tourism fell by 30 percent during the first nine months of 1397 compared to the same period a year earlier.

“A total of 5,900,381 Iranians traveled overseas during the first nine months of the year, indicating a 30 percent decline year on year,” she said.

Sharp rises in the value of foreign currencies against rial has pushed up the costs of traveling, which seems to be the main reason behind the decline in Iran’s air travels.

AFM/MG