Mahan Air
Mahan Air is a private Iranian airline headquartered in Tehran, providing scheduled domestic and international passenger flights, cargo services and charters. It operates through Tehran’s Imam Khomeini and Mehrabad airports, with focus cities in Kerman and Mashhad. The airline is a material Iranian aviation counterparty, but extensive U.S. and EU sanctions sharply limit international commercial engagement.
Operations & footprint
Products and services
Mahan Air operates scheduled domestic and international passenger flights, cargo and freight services, online booking, ticketing, passenger support, Mahan and Miles frequent flyer services, charter activity, aviation operations, airport services, travel-agency sales, and regional and long-haul air transport links from Tehran and other Iranian airport nodes to domestic, Middle Eastern, Central Asian, South Asian, East Asian, and selected international destinations.
Operations and assets
Mahan Air operates through Tehran Imam Khomeini International Airport and Mehrabad International Airport, with Kerman and Mashhad as focus cities. Aircraft types listed as of May 2026 include Airbus A310, Airbus A340 and British Aerospace 146 aircraft.
Geographic footprint
Iranian domestic and international air services centred on Tehran, with focus-city operations in Kerman and Mashhad.
Ownership & group structure
Ownership
Private Iranian airline.
Parent company
Mol-Al-Movahedin Institute (Mol-Al-Movahedin Charity Institute).
Reported scale
Employees: Approximately 3,300–4,000 employees, based on 2025–2026 estimates.
Commercial and investment relevance
Mahan Air is relevant for investors assessing Iran's international aviation capacity, private airline operations, passenger and cargo demand, long-haul connectivity, tourism flows, aircraft maintenance constraints, and the practical effect of sanctions on transport and logistics. It can support analysis of route economics, aircraft availability, spare-parts access, international ticketing, cargo networks, airport-linked services, and aviation resilience under sanctions. Due diligence should treat the company as high compliance risk and verify sanctions status, ownership, related companies, aircraft and engines, route network, maintenance providers, cargo counterparties, insurance coverage, leasing or debt obligations, payment channels, safety record, and restrictions affecting aircraft parts, fuel, finance, freight, or international services. The airline is a transport counterparty for passenger travel, air cargo and charter requirements connected to Iran. Engagements involving international suppliers, lessors, insurers, financial institutions, airports or aviation-service providers require rigorous sanctions controls.
Constraints, risk & compliance
Key risks and constraints
International operating flexibility is constrained by sanctions-related restrictions and flight bans in Germany, France and Italy. These restrictions affect route access and complicate aircraft acquisition, maintenance support, insurance, financing and cross-border payment arrangements.
Sanctions and compliance considerations
Mahan Air is designated by the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control under the NPWMD, IFSR and SDGT programmes, with OFAC alleging support for the IRGC-Qods Force. OFAC also designated aircraft including EP-MTB and EP-MTE, and entities linked to the airline including Chabok FZCO and Saman Air Services Company, on 21 April 2026. The company is also subject to EU sanctions.
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Frequently asked questions
Direct answers to the questions most likely to arise when reviewing this profile.
What services does Mahan Air provide?
Mahan Air operates scheduled domestic and international passenger flights, cargo services and charter flights, alongside booking, ticketing, passenger-support and frequent-flyer services.
Where does Mahan Air operate from?
Its principal hubs are Tehran Imam Khomeini International Airport and Mehrabad International Airport. Kerman and Mashhad are focus cities.
Is Mahan Air subject to sanctions?
Yes. Mahan Air is designated by OFAC under the NPWMD, IFSR and SDGT programmes and is also subject to EU sanctions. These measures are material to any international commercial relationship.