Fars News Agency reported on Sunday that Mehr Airways had completed its first official flight between Tehran and Mashhad, marking its entry into the country’s active airline sector.
According to the report, Mehr Airways received its air operator’s certificate (AOC) after passing test flights and meeting the technical, navigation, and administrative requirements set by Iranian aviation authorities.
The airline currently operates two nearly 30-year-old Embraer aircraft imported into Iran in 2024 and 2025. Each aircraft is configured with 20 business-class seats and 70 economy-class seats.
For now, Iranian aviation regulators have authorized Mehr Airways to only operate charter flights, the report by Fars said, adding that the airline is expected to receive approval for scheduled and regular services in the near future.
The addition of Mehr Airways is expected to increase passenger transport capacity and diversify Iran’s aviation services.
The development comes as Iran seeks to strengthen its civil aviation sector through domestic investment, faced with US sanctions that restrict access to aircraft purchases from global manufacturers.
Earlier this month, Iran's Civil Aviation Organization (CAA) announced plans to manufacture domestically produced light passenger aircraft to meet rising demand for short-haul services. This followed news that aviation and defense officials had begun test flights for Simorgh, the country’s first home-built cargo plane.
Press TV