Flights by Iranian airlines to Turkey could be completely halted from early October, a move that, if implemented, would close one of the last major air routes available to Iranian travellers.

Turkey Today reported on Monday, September 28, citing two sources, that all flights by Iranian airlines to Turkey are expected to be cancelled from early October. The outlet said another person with close ties to Iran’s aviation industry had also confirmed the possibility of the flights being suspended.

Turkey Today stressed, however, that Turkish authorities have not yet announced such a decision. Despite the suspension of Mahan Air services, Iran Air and several other Iranian airlines continue to operate multiple daily flights between Iran and Turkey.

Mahan Air previously suspended its flights to Turkey at the request of Turkish authorities. Meanwhile, Turkish Airlines, AJet and Pegasus have also halted services to Iran, with no flights to the country listed in the Turkish Airlines and AJet booking systems until March 2027.

Pressure on Iran’s international flights has intensified following a new package of US sanctions targeting the country’s aviation industry. On September 8, the US Treasury Department added 27 Iranian airlines to its sanctions list and also targeted companies and intermediaries in several countries, including Turkey.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said companies and airports providing Iranian airlines with services such as refuelling, ground handling or ticket sales could face sanctions and lose access to the US dollar-based financial system. The sanctions do not in themselves legally prohibit Iranian aircraft from entering all countries, but they make the airlines’ continued international operations dependent on cooperation from foreign airport service providers.

Despite the pressure, several Iranian airlines have continued operating at Istanbul Airport. Aviation news outlet Haber Aero reported last week that ground handling services for Qeshm Air, Iran Airtour, Soroush Air, ATA Airlines and Taban Air at Istanbul Airport were transferred to Turkish company Fugo on September 23. All five airlines are included in the latest US sanctions list.

Turkey is currently one of the few regional destinations that continues to accept flights operated by Iranian airlines. Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iraq, Qatar, Oman and the UAE have suspended Iranian airline services in recent days.

If the complete suspension takes effect in early October, direct air links between Iran and Turkey will face severe restrictions. Turkish airlines have already halted flights to Iran, and Iranian carriers would no longer be able to operate direct services to Turkey.