Turkish Airlines, Pegasus and AJet Cancel Iran Flights as US Sanctions Bite
Turkey’s national carrier, Turkish Airlines, alongside budget airlines AJet and Pegasus, have suspended all flights to and from Iran effective September 21. This decision coincides with the implementation of new United States sanctions, a development confirmed by an analysis conducted by Middle East Eye. The operational halt represents a significant shift in air connectivity between the two neighboring nations, driven by external geopolitical pressures rather than bilateral diplomatic disputes.
Current schedules on the websites of Turkish Airlines and AJet show no available flights to Iranian destinations until March 2027. Similarly, Pegasus has removed all routes to Iran from its booking system for the foreseeable future. The uncertainty regarding the resumption of services is high; according to Iran International, a representative for Turkish Airlines stated that there is no guarantee flights will resume even after the March 2027 mark. This lack of clarity suggests that the suspension may extend well beyond the initial timeline, reflecting the severity of the regulatory environment.
A source familiar with the matter told Middle East Eye that the US Treasury sanctions targeting Iran’s aviation sector are so stringent that Turkish carriers had no alternative but to suspend their operations. The person explained that while restrictions on American-made aircraft, such as those produced by Boeing, were expected, the new measures also prohibit Airbus planes from flying to Iran. This is because these European-manufactured jets contain components sourced from the United States. Consequently, the carriers faced an impossible choice: comply with US regulations or lose access to global markets and financing. The source emphasized that the carriers had no other viable option given the comprehensive nature of the sanctions.
Despite the suspension of Turkish flights, some Iranian carriers remain active. A Turkish official noted that as of Monday, Mahan Air was the only Iranian airline barred from flying to Turkey. Other Iranian carriers are currently permitted to maintain services between the two countries, indicating a selective approach to enforcement. This situation highlights the complex web of international regulations that Turkish entities must navigate to operate globally.
Turkey and Iran have historically maintained stable relations characterized by extensive energy and commercial ties, despite successive rounds of US sanctions on Tehran. However, the current administration under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has adopted a different strategy since US President Donald Trump moved to tighten economic pressure on Iran. In a move aligned with Washington’s demands, Turkey revoked the banking license of Iran’s Bank Mellat over the weekend. This bank had operated in the country for decades. Additionally, Turkey’s banking regulator took over Golden Global Investment Bank last week after the US imposed sanctions on the institution for allegedly transferring funds to the Iranian government. These actions underscore Turkey’s effort to align its financial and aviation sectors with US policy, even at the cost of disrupting established regional connections.
This report was produced in the Europe Brief News newsroom.
