Tehran Airport Departures — Live Flight Information

Real-time departure status, check-in timings and exit procedures for flights leaving Tehran.

Departures from Tehran are split between two airports. Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKA), around 30 km southwest of the city, handles almost all international departures, while Mehrabad Airport (THR), inside the western part of Tehran, handles the bulk of domestic services. Confirming which one your flight leaves from is the first step, because the two sit on opposite sides of the city and the drive between them is a journey in itself.

Check the live departures board above with your flight number before you leave, and again once you reach the terminal. Many international services from IKA depart late at night or before dawn, when the drive out of the city is the part most people underestimate.

Tracking Your Departure on the Board Above

The live board above carries the details that decide your timing:

Departure Times

Scheduled and updated departure times, with the current boarding status for each flight.

Airport & Terminal

Whether the flight leaves from IKA or Mehrabad — the detail that decides your whole travel day.

Gate Information

Boarding gate numbers as they are assigned, which can change after you clear security.

Delays & Changes

Schedule changes and cancellations, published as they are confirmed by the airlines.

Check-In, Security and Exit Procedures

Departing passengers move through a sequence of stages before reaching the gate:

From the Terminal Door to the Gate International departures
  • 01Terminal Entrance Screening

    Bags are screened at the terminal entrance before you reach the check-in hall, so allow a few extra minutes at the door during busy departure waves.

  • 02Check-In and Bag Drop

    Find your airline’s counter row on the information displays, then drop checked luggage and collect your boarding pass. Counters close well before departure, so the check-in window matters more than the departure time itself.

  • 03Passport Control

    Exit immigration processes departing passengers, with separate lanes for nationals and foreign visitors. Keep your passport and boarding pass accessible rather than packed.

  • 04Security and Boarding

    Security screening applies to carry-on luggage before the airside halls. Confirm your gate on the monitors after clearing security, since assignments can change.

Services in the Departures Area

Currency Exchange

Exchange desks operate landside in the departures area. Since foreign cards are generally not usable in Iran, plan to convert any remaining local currency before you pass through passport control.

Duty-Free & Retail

Duty-free outlets, shops and food counters operate in the departure areas, with the wider selection after security.

Prayer Rooms & Rest Areas

Prayer rooms and seating areas are available throughout the terminal, useful on the overnight departure waves.

Passenger Assistance

Information desks and airline staff assist with wayfinding and flight queries, and mobility assistance is arranged through your airline in advance.

Getting to the Airport from Tehran

IKA sits well outside the city, so the journey out is the part of a departure most worth planning:

From the City to the Terminal ~30 km
  • Taxis

    The most common option and the only one that works at any hour. Agreeing the fare in advance is the normal practice, and hotels can usually arrange a car for an overnight departure.

  • Metro Link

    A metro connection serves IKA but runs on limited hours rather than around the clock, so check the operating times against your check-in window before relying on it.

  • Buses and Shuttles

    Bus and shuttle services connect the city and Mehrabad with IKA, with journey times that vary considerably with traffic.

  • Allow for Traffic

    Tehran traffic can add a substantial amount of time to the drive. Work backwards from the check-in closing time rather than the departure time.

Tips for Departing from Tehran

Before You Leave for the Airport IKA & THR
  • 01Confirm the Airport

    IKA and Mehrabad are on opposite sides of Tehran, and arriving at the wrong one is not a mistake you can correct quickly. Check the board above before setting off.

  • 02Work Backwards from Check-In Closing

    Counters close well before departure. Plan the drive, the entrance screening and the check-in queue against that closing time, not the take-off time.

  • 03Spend or Exchange Local Currency

    Local currency is difficult to use or exchange once you leave the country, so deal with any remaining cash before you clear passport control.

  • 04Check Customs Rules on What You Carry

    Export restrictions apply to certain goods, including some items travelers commonly buy as souvenirs. Confirm the current rules with an official source before packing them.

  • 05Re-Check the Gate Airside

    Gate assignments can change after security, so confirm yours on the monitors rather than relying on the gate printed on your boarding pass.

Editor's Insight

A departure from IKA is decided on the road rather than in the terminal. Most international services leave late at night or before dawn, the airport is around 30 km from the city, and the check-in counters close well before take-off — so the useful question is not when the flight departs, but when you need to be in the car. Settle the ride the day before, and the rest of the process is straightforward.