iran air tours airlines

• قوانین و مقررات
• راهنمای سایت
• دریافت ارزش افزوده (همکاران)
• Login or register
• موجودی : {{mainStrToMiss(UserStatus.UserAccountRealBalance, true,true)}} {{currencyName}}
• اعتبار : {{mainStrToMiss(UserStatus.UserAccountRealCredit, true)}} {{currencyName}}
• دپوزیت : {{mainStrToMiss(UserStatus.UserAccountRealDeposit, true)}} {{currencyName}}
• رزرو موقت پرواز
• بلیت های من
• استرداد بلیت
• درخواست های ویژه
• ریز گردش حساب
• مدیریت مسافران سابق
• ویرایش اطلاعات کاربری
• ثبت اطلاعات آژانس
• تغییر رمز عبور
• مدیریت رزرو گروهی
• گزارش فروش دوره ای
• {{item.Name}}
• {{qStatus.Unread}}
• همکاری با ما
• پرواز داخلی داخلی
• پرواز خارجی خارجی
• پرواز + هتل خارجی

جستجوی بلیت هواپیما داخلی

• رفت و برگشت
• بزرگسال + -
• کودک (2 تا 12 سال) + -
• نوزاد (کوچکتر از 2 سال) + -
• اکونومی | Economy
• بیزینس | Business
• فرست | First
• پرمیوم | Premium
• پرواز داخلی
• پرواز خارجی

جستجوی بلیت هواپیما خارجی

• {{day.jalaliDay}} {{day.depurtureTime}} {{day.minPrice}} {{currencyName}}
• {{item.d}}, {{item.c}} {{item.a}}
• موردی یافت نشد!
• شهرهای پرتردد
• {{item.c}} {{'('}}{{item.b}}{{')'}} {{item.a}}
• تعداد بزرگسال بزرگتر از 12 سال + -
• تعداد کودک 2 تا 12 سال + -
• تعداد نوزاد کوچکتر از 2 سال + -
• {{item.c}} {{item.a}}
• تعداد مسافر بزرگتر از 12 سال + -
• ویژه آقایان
• ویژه بانوان
• کوپه اختصاصی
• {{item.c}} {{item.d}}{{(item.d.lentgh)?',':''}} {{item.b}}
• {{item.d}}, {{item.c}} {{item.s}} {{'('}}{{item.b}}{{')'}}
• hotel ha ha
• 3" ng-repeat="item in intDestinationHotels = (InternationalHotlesList | filter : hotel.internationalHotelDestination) | orderBy : ['e']" ng-click="hotel.internationalHotelDestination = item.d + ', ' + item.c; hotel.internationalHotelDestinationCode = item.a"> {{item.d}}, {{item.c}} {{item.s}} {{'('}}{{item.b}}{{')'}}
• {{item.d}}, {{item.c}}
• {{item.d}}, {{item.c}} {{'('}}{{item.b}}{{')'}} {{item.a}}

{{login.form.callback.Message}} فعالسازی ارسال مجدد ایمیل

• آژانس های مسافرتی که قصد ثبت نام، عضویت و دریافت پنل ویژه آژانس های مسافرتی(ساین) را دارند میتوانند از فرم زیر نسبت به ثبت نام و دریافت نام کاربری اقدام نمایند
• پس از پر نمودن فرم و ثبت درخواست ، اطلاعات ثبت شده در فرم بررسی و در صورت صحت مندرجات، ایمیل تایید عضویت برای شما ارسال میگردد.
• دقت فرمایید به جهت حمایت از آژانس های مسافرتی و ایجاد امنیت و آرامش خاطر در خرید برای مسافران، ارسال تصویر مجوز فعالیت از سازمان هواپیمایی کشوری و یا سازمان میراث فرهنگی و گردشگری برای عضویت آژانس ها الزامی می باشد، لذا هنگام ثبت درخواست، تصویر اسکن شده مجوز دارای اعتبار را به همراه این فرم برای ما ارسال نمایید.
• در وارد کردن نام انگلیسی آژانس خود دقت فرمایید که این نام در آینده بعنوان نام پروفایل شما به کار می رود.
• جهت استفاده از سامانه رزرواسیون نمایندگی فروش به markazetour.ir و markazetour.com مراجعه کنید.
• پس از دریافت ساین به منظور ایمنی بیشتر حتما رمز عبور خود را تغییر دهید.
• سایز عکس های آپلودی باید کمتر از 2 مگابایت باشد.

{{register.form.callback.Message}}

{{tokenRegister.form.callback.OriginalMessageText}}

{{UserInfo.form.callback.Message}}

به منظور پیگیری رزرو خود بدون نیاز به ورود به سیستم ایمیل، شماره موبایل و کد مرجع را وارد نمایید .

به منظور استرداد/تغییر نام بلیت خود بدون نیاز به ورود به سیستم ایمیل، شماره موبایل و کد مرجع را وارد نمایید.

مرورگر شما با سیستم سازگار نیست. لطفا برای استفاده از سایت از مرورگر Edge و یا Chrome استفاده کنید.

Find cheap Iran Air Tours flights

Search hundreds of travel sites at once for deals on iran air tours flights.

Save 21% or more Compare multiple travel sites with one search.

Free to use There are no hidden charges or fees.

Filter your deals Choose cabin class, free Wi-Fi and more.

FAQs about flying with Iran Air Tours

Where does iran air tours fly to.

Iran Air Tours offers direct flights to 21 cities in 6 different countries. Mashhad, Tabriz, and Tehran are the most popular cities covered by Iran Air Tours.

What is Iran Air Tours’ primary hub?

Iran Air Tours concentrates most of its flight operations in Mashhad.

How does KAYAK find such low prices on Iran Air Tours flights?

KAYAK is a travel search engine, meaning that we continuously look across the web to find the best deals for our users. With over 2 billion flight queries processed yearly, we are able to display a variety of prices and options on flights from all airlines, including Iran Air Tours.

What’s the cheapest route that Iran Air Tours flies?

In the last 72 hours, the cheapest route flown by Iran Air Tours found on KAYAK was from Dubai to Tehran, with a price of $236 for a round-trip.

What are the most popular airports for Iran Air Tours flights to depart from?

With 11 Iran Air Tours flights departing each week, Mashad airport is the most popular airport for Iran Air Tours flights to depart from. The most popular destination from this airport is Ābādān. The next most popular departure airport is Tehran Imam Khomeini Intl airport, with 9 Iran Air Tours flights departing from there each week.

Is Iran Air Tours part of an airline alliance?

No, Iran Air Tours is not part of an airline alliance.

How many destinations does Iran Air Tours fly to?

In total, Iran Air Tours flies to 22 destinations.

Iran Air Tours customer reviews

Iran air tours flight status, iran air tours route map - which destinations does iran air tours fly to, all iran air tours flight routes, top airports served by iran air tours.

• Istanbul Airport (IST)
• Baghdad Intl Airport (BGW)
• Dubai Intl Airport (DXB)
• Yerevan Airport (EVN)
• Denizli Cardak Airport (DNZ)
• Batumi Airport (BUS)
• Tbilisi Intl Airport (TBS)
• Izmir Adnan Menderes Arpt Airport (ADB)
• Milas–Bodrum Airport (BJV)

Iran Air Tours contact information

• B9 IATA Code
• +44 207 408 0768 Call
• iranairtour.ir Visit

Iran Air Tours information

Other popular airlines in the united states.

Expedia Rewards is now One Key™

Cheap iran air tours (b9) flight reservations & booking flights.

Bundle Your Flight + Hotel & Save!

Add a place to stay

Direct flights only

• trending down icon Be in the know Get alerts if flight prices drop or rise*
• bex rewards loyalty icon Book smarter Save up to 30% on select hotels after you book a flight*
• one key icon Earn twice Earn your airline miles on top of our OneKeyCash Learn about One Key

Airline Information

Frequently asked questions.

• Top Flights Destinations
• Flights to Las Vegas
• Flights to New York
• Flights to Orlando
• Flights to Panama City Beach
• Flights to Chicago
• Flights to San Diego
• Flights to Myrtle Beach
• Flights to Los Angeles
• Flights to Miami
• Flights to Destin
• Flights to Nashville
• Flights to Boston
• Flights to Key West
• Flights to Honolulu
• Flights to San Francisco
• Flights to New Orleans
• Flights to Houston
• Flights to Fort Lauderdale
• Flights to Atlanta
• Flights to Seattle
• Flights to Mexico
• Flights to Brazil
• Flights to Norway
• Flights to Indonesia
• Flights to United States of America
• Flights to Spain
• Flights to South Korea
• Flights to Canada
• Flights to India
• Flights to Japan
• Flights to Thailand
• Flights to Sweden
• Flights to Türkiye
• Flights to Argentina
• Flights to China
• Flights to Greece
• Flights to Italy
• Flights to United Kingdom
• Flights to Russia
• Flights to Switzerland

Find cheap Iran Air Tours flights

Search hundreds of travel sites at once for deals on iran air tours flights.

Save 21% or more Compare multiple travel sites with one search.

Free to use There are no hidden charges or fees.

Filter your deals Choose cabin class, free Wi-Fi and more.

FAQs about flying with Iran Air Tours

Where does iran air tours fly to.

Iran Air Tours offers direct flights to 21 cities in 6 different countries. Mashhad, Tabriz, and Tehran are the most popular cities covered by Iran Air Tours.

What is Iran Air Tours’ primary hub?

Iran Air Tours concentrates most of its flight operations in Mashhad.

How does KAYAK find such low prices on Iran Air Tours flights?

KAYAK is a travel search engine, meaning that we continuously look across the web to find the best deals for our users. With over 2 billion flight queries processed yearly, we are able to display a variety of prices and options on flights from all airlines, including Iran Air Tours.

What are the most popular airports for Iran Air Tours flights to depart from?

With 11 Iran Air Tours flights departing each week, Mashad airport is the most popular airport for Iran Air Tours flights to depart from. The most popular destination from this airport is Ābādān. The next most popular departure airport is Tehran Imam Khomeini Intl airport, with 9 Iran Air Tours flights departing from there each week.

Is Iran Air Tours part of an airline alliance?

No, Iran Air Tours is not part of an airline alliance.

How many destinations does Iran Air Tours fly to?

In total, Iran Air Tours flies to 22 destinations.

Iran Air Tours customer reviews

Iran air tours flight status, iran air tours route map – which destinations does iran air tours fly to, all iran air tours flight routes, top airports served by iran air tours.

• Istanbul Airport (IST)
• Baghdad Intl Airport (BGW)
• Dubai Intl Airport (DXB)
• Yerevan Airport (EVN)
• Denizli Cardak Airport (DNZ)
• Batumi Airport (BUS)
• Tbilisi Intl Airport (TBS)
• Izmir Adnan Menderes Arpt Airport (ADB)
• Milas–Bodrum Airport (BJV)

Iran Air Tours contact information

• B9 IATA code
• +98 2189317000 Call
• iranairtour.ir Visit

Iran Air Tours information

Other popular airlines in india.

Iran Air Tour (Iran Airtour)

Established in 1973 as a subsidiary of Iran Air, Iran Air Tour (also known as Iran Airtour) is the publicly owned flagship carrier of the Islamic Republic of Iran. The carrier was privatised in 2011 due to amendments in  Article 44 of the Iranian Constitution regarding the divestment of state-owned assets. Iran Airtour maintained its subsidiary status with parent company Iran Air. From its primary base at Tehran Mehrabad Airport, Iran Airtour operates scheduled domestic service and regional service in the Middle East, as well as charter services to international destinations.

CAPA Profiles

CAPA Profiles help you identify new business opportunities and make better business decisions, by providing accurate and up-to-date data on airports, airlines, suppliers, investors, MROs, lessors and countries/territories around the world. Each profile offers comprehensive news and analysis, as well as the ability to drill down into data on schedules, capacity share, fleet, traffic, financial results and more.

Our full profiles are only available to CAPA Members. CAPA Membership provides exclusive access to the information you need to monitor the competitive landscape and guide your organisation towards success.

It’s ideal for industry analysts, managers and executives who need a snapshot of the latest news, analysis and data from our global team, with the ability to export or email PDF reports in one click.

• 5000+ airports
• 3000+ airlines
• 1600+ suppliers
• 800+ airport investors
• 250+ countries/territories and regions

CAPA Membership also gives you access to a customised selection of more than 1,000 global News Briefs every week, as well as a comprehensive Data Centre, Analysis Reports and Research Publications. You can also choose from our range of premium add-ons, including Route Maps, Fleet Data and more.

Book flights with Iran Air Tours

Big names and deals, filter for what you want, trusted and free, price alerts, quick facts about iran air tours, find info about flight duration, flight prices, and popular routes for iran air tours, information about flying with iran air tours, does iran air tours have flights from los angeles.

If you wish to fly with Iran Air Tours, then you would need to book a flight out of Istanbul because the airline does not fly out of Los Angeles. If you still prefer to fly out of Los Angeles, then there are other airlines to choose from, such as Air Algerie.

What are the top airports Iran Air Tours serves?

Mashad, Tabriz, and Tehran Mehrabad are the most popular airports Iran Air Tours uses on a routine basis throughout the year.

How do I check the flight status for Iran Air Tours?

To check the flight status of Iran Air Tours, you can give them a call at +44 207 408 0768 or visit their website at iranairtour.ir . Or, you can use our on-page Flight Tracker that provides you with real-time Iran Air Tours flight information, including terminal and gate number, arrival and departure times, and flight status.

What is the cheapest international Iran Air Tours flight?

The cheapest international round-trip flight with Iran Air Tours is: - Tehran Imam Khomeini Intl to Dubai Intl - $188 per ticket - 0 stops The cheapest international one-way flight with Iran Air Tours is: - Dubai Intl to Tehran Imam Khomeini Intl - $105 per ticket - 0 stops

Iran Air Tours Flight Tracker

Search by route or flight number to check the flight status for iran air tours, get notified when prices go down, daily price changes in your inbox - only with price alerts., find better results for your trip, iran air tours's most visited airports, airlines operating similar routes.

Find cheap Iran Air Tours flights

Search hundreds of travel sites at once for deals on iran air tours flights.

Save 28% or more Compare multiple travel sites with one search.

Free to use There are no hidden charges or fees.

Filter your deals Choose cabin class, free Wi-Fi and more.

FAQs about flying with Iran Air Tours

Where does iran air tours fly to.

Iran Air Tours offers direct flights to 21 cities in 6 different countries. Mashhad, Tabriz, and Tehran are the most popular cities covered by Iran Air Tours.

What is Iran Air Tours’ primary hub?

Iran Air Tours concentrates most of its flight operations in Mashhad.

How does KAYAK find such low prices on Iran Air Tours flights?

KAYAK is a travel search engine, meaning that we continuously look across the web to find the best deals for our users. With over 2 billion flight queries processed yearly, we are able to display a variety of prices and options on flights from all airlines, including Iran Air Tours.

What’s the cheapest route that Iran Air Tours flies?

In the last 72 hours, the cheapest route flown by Iran Air Tours found on KAYAK was from Dubai to Tehran, with a price of £186 for a round-trip.

What are the most popular airports for Iran Air Tours flights to depart from?

With 11 Iran Air Tours flights departing each week, Mashad airport is the most popular airport for Iran Air Tours flights to depart from. The most popular destination from this airport is Ābādān. The next most popular departure airport is Tehran Imam Khomeini Intl airport, with 9 Iran Air Tours flights departing from there each week.

Is Iran Air Tours part of an airline alliance?

No, Iran Air Tours is not part of an airline alliance.

How many destinations does Iran Air Tours fly to?

In total, Iran Air Tours flies to 22 destinations.

Iran Air Tours customer reviews

Iran air tours flight status, iran air tours route map – which destinations does iran air tours fly to, all iran air tours flight routes, top airports served by iran air tours.

• Istanbul Airport (IST)
• Baghdad Intl Airport (BGW)
• Dubai Intl Airport (DXB)
• Yerevan Airport (EVN)
• Denizli Cardak Airport (DNZ)
• Batumi Airport (BUS)
• Tbilisi Intl Airport (TBS)
• Izmir Adnan Menderes Arpt Airport (ADB)
• Milas–Bodrum Airport (BJV)

Iran Air Tours contact information

• B9 IATA code
• +98 2189317000 Call
• iranairtour.ir Visit

Iran Air Tours information

Other popular airlines in the united kingdom.

5 Interesting Aircraft Types That Have Graced China Southern Airlines' Fleet Over The Years

• China Southern Airlines operated the Airbus A380 but ended superjumbo operations completely in November 2022.
• China Southern also had Boeing 747-400 freighters in its fleet, with the last one exiting in December 2020.
• The airline received the Chinese-built COMAC ARJ21 in 2020 and currently operates 26 of them.

Guangzhou-based China Southern Airlines has an extensive domestic and international route network and is one of China's three major airlines. The carrier serves over 230 destinations with a fleet of over 600 aircraft, mainly consisting of modern jetliners like the Airbus A350 and Boeing 787. Since its founding in 1988, the airline has operated various aircraft types from various manufacturers in China, Europe, Russia, and the US.

Airbus A380-800

October 2011 - november 2022.

One of the most interesting aircraft types operated by the Guangzhou-based carrier is none other than the Airbus A380 , the world's largest passenger aircraft. China Southern has a long history with the superjumbo, placing its first order for the type back in 2008. It received its first A380, registration B-6136, in October 2011, becoming the first and only Chinese airline to fly the A380. China Southern only took five examples, with the following delivery dates:

Following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the A380 fell out of favor with several airlines . Record-low travel sped up its retirement from some airline fleets. However, China Southern held on to the superjumbo throughout the pandemic, deploying it on high-demand domestic routes and using it for repatriation flights. It was notably the only A380 operator that did not ground the aircraft.

However, it was not long until the carrier decided to end all A380 operations. The superjumbo operated its last revenue flight for China Southern on November 6, 2022 . The final flight from Los Angeles International (LAX) to Guangzhou (CAN) was operated by B-6139. The youngest A380, B-6140, had operated its final flight just a day earlier. While the other four quadjets remain at the Mojave Air & Space Port, B-6140 has found a new life as Global Airlines' first aircraft . It has taken up registration 9H-GLOBL.

Boeing 747-400 Freighters

May 2002 - december 2020.

The other notable aircraft that has graced China Airlines' fleet is the "Queen of the Skies." However, the airline operated the freighter version of the jumbo. According to ATDB.aero , the carrier owned two Boeing 747-400Fs throughout its history but also operated a few others on wet lease contracts.

China Southern launched a dedicated cargo center in Shenzhen in 2000 and ordered two 747 Freighters in 2001. At the time, it operated a single 747-400F wet-leased from Atlas Air. The first 747-400F was delivered on June 19, 2022, making China Southern the first Chinese airline to operate the type. The quadjet was also the first all-cargo aircraft in the carrier's fleet.

The 747s were parked in late 2020. B-2461 was the first one to go, exiting the fleet in September 2020. It remains active, operating cargo flights for Air Central with the same registration. B-2473 served China Southern for longer, exiting the fleet in December 2020. It is now operated by SF Airlines but is currently parked at Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport (CGO).

Love aviation history ? Discover more of our stories here

COMAC ARJ21

June 2020 - present.

The ARJ21 is a regional jet built by Chinese manufacturer COMAC . Its development began in 2002, with the first prototype being rolled out in December 2007. The ARJ21 (Advanced Regional Jet) took to the skies for the first time in November 2008 before entering service with Chengdu Airlines in June 2016.

China Southern and the country's two other major airlines, China Eastern and Air China, received their first ARJ21s on June 28, 2020 , in what COMAC called "the official entry of the ARJ21 into mainstream international airline fleets." However, China Eastern's ARJ21s are operated by its subsidiary OTT Airlines.

What To Expect From COMAC In 2024

The first ARJ to enter China Southern's fleet is registered B-605W. The second aircraft, registered B-605X, was delivered in September 2020. The Guangzhou-based carrier currently has 26 examples in its fleet. Last year, China Southern launched its second COMAC ARJ21 base after receiving its 16th ARJ21. The airline also has 100 COMAC C919s on order.

McDonnell Douglas MD-80

2003 - 2010.

The McDonnell Douglas MD-80, affectionately known as "the Mad Dog," was developed as a stretched variant of the DC-9. Keeping the DC-9's five-abreast layout, the MD-80 became popular in many different regions worldwide. American Airlines, the largest operator of the type, retired the aircraft in September 2019 with a Super-80 sendoff . By then, China Southern had retired the MD-80.

The Guangzhou-based carrier operated 23 MD-80s. Planespotters.net notes that the first two were delivered in November 2023, while ch-aviation suggests they arrived in March 2003. Nonetheless, the type was essential to China Southern's fleet, operating flights on several domestic routes and to regional destinations in Hong Kong, Japan, and South Korea.

The aircraft remained in China Southern's fleet until the early 2010s. Some ex-China Southern MD-80s are stored, while others are preserved in different locations. According to ATDB.aero, five examples remain active with the following carriers:

• B-2126 : Iran Air
• B-2139: Iran Airtour
• B-2140: Iran Airtour
• B-2147: Iran Air
• B-2151: Iran Airtour

Want answers to more key questions in aviation? Check out the rest of our guides here .

Xian Y-7 Turboprop

1991 - 1995.

Last but not least on our list is the Chinese-built Xian Y-7 passenger turboprop. The aircraft was based on the popular Antonov An-24 , which China Southern Airlines also operated. China gained interest early in the An-24s production and imported several examples. Impressed by its capabilities, China also negotiated licenses to produce the aircraft and its engines. The Xian aircraft factory commenced the project in 1966, with the first Chinese-assembled AN-24T taking its first flight in December 1970.

Production for the Y-7 started in 1977, but the turboprop did not make its maiden flight until February 1984. While it isn't very clear when China Southern received or retired its Xian Y-7s, ATDB.aero notes that it had five of the turboprops in its fleet. They were all delivered sometime in April 1994, with some exiting the fleet in 1995.

One example, registered B-3456, is preserved at Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK). The other examples are either derelict, stored or have unknown fates. Other interesting aircraft operated by China Southern include the Boeing 777 (active), Airbus A300 (retired), and Embraer E190 (retired).

What do you think of this story? Have you ever flown on these aircraft before? Please share your thoughts and experiences in the comments!

The Straits Times

• International
• Print Edition
• news with benefits
• SPH Rewards
• STClassifieds
• Berita Harian
• Hardwarezone
• Shin Min Daily News
• Tamil Murasu
• The Business Times
• The New Paper
• Lianhe Zaobao
• Advertise with us

Airlines scramble to change routes after Israeli attack on Iran

TEHRAN – Airlines quickly changed flight paths over Iran, diverted to other airports or returned planes to their departure points on April 19 in response to airspace and airport closures after an Israeli attack on Iran, flight tracking data showed.

Iran closed its airports in Tehran, Shiraz and Isfahan after the attack and cleared flights from the western portion of its airspace for a few hours after the attack, according to flight tracking website FlightRadar24.

By 0445 GMT (12:45pm Singapore time) the airports and airspace had reopened, and closure notices posted on a US Federal Aviation Administration database had been removed.

Before the airports reopened, flydubai said it had cancelled its April 19 flights to Iran. One of its earlier flights turned back to Dubai, it added.

An Iran Air flight from Rome to Tehran was diverted to Ankara, Turkey, Flightradar 24 showed.

Emirates, flydubai, Turkish Air, Wizz Air Abu Dhabi and Belavia were among the carriers continuing to fly over the part of Iran’s airspace that remained open in the initial hours after the attack early on April 19, the tracking website showed.

“We are monitoring the situation closely and will make changes to our flight paths in consultation with the relevant authorities,” flydubai said in a statement.

The airspace and airport closures in Iran compounded a difficult week for Dubai-based carriers after record rainfall in the United Arab Emirates.

Since April 16, 1,478 flights have been cancelled to and from Dubai, approximately 30 per cent of all flights, according to FlightRadar24.

Many Western and Asian airlines had already been steering clear of Iran and its airspace before the Israeli attack, which came days after Iran’s missile and drone attack on Israel.

Germany’s Lufthansa on April 17 extended a suspension of flights to Tehran until the end of the month, citing ongoing security concerns in the region.

Australia’s Qantas Airways said on April 13 that it was rerouting flights between Perth and London on concerns about the Middle East, adding a fuel stop in Singapore as it avoided Iran’s airspace.

Taiwan’s China Airlines said in a statement that it “continues to pay attention to the situation as it develops and plans the most appropriate routes in accordance with the recommendations of the US Federal Aviation Administration and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency”.

Etihad Airways, which does not fly to Iran, said it “continuously monitors security and airspace updates, safety is always our highest priority, and we would never operate a flight unless it was safe to do so”. REUTERS

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.

• Israel-Palestine

Read 3 articles and stand to win rewards

Spin the wheel now

Back to the future? Airline sector poised for change post-COVID-19

It’s difficult to overstate just how much the COVID-19 pandemic has devastated airlines. In 2020, industry revenues totaled $328 billion, around 40 percent of the previous year’s. In nominal terms, that’s the same as in 2000. The sector is expected to be smaller for years to come; we project traffic won’t return to 2019 levels before 2024.

Financial woes aside, the pandemic’s longer-term effects on aviation are emerging. Some of these are obvious: hygiene and safety standards will be more stringent, and digitalization will continue to transform the travel experience. Mobile apps will be used to store travelers’ vaccine certificates and COVID-19 test results.

Other effects, though, are more profound. Unlike the 2008 global financial crisis, which was purely economic and weakened spending power, COVID-19 has changed consumer behavior—and the airline sector—irrevocably.

This article will explore five fundamental shifts in the aviation industry that have arisen from the pandemic. For each of these shifts, we also issue a call to action. By responding to these shifts decisively now, carriers should be able to look beyond the pandemic and adapt to the long-term realities of COVID-19.

1. Leisure trips will fuel the recovery

Business travel will take longer to recover, and even then, we estimate it will only likely recover to around 80 percent of prepandemic levels by 2024. Remote work  and other flexible working arrangements are likely to remain in some form postpandemic and people will take fewer corporate trips.

In previous crises, leisure trips or visits to friends and relatives tended to rebound first, as was the case in the United Kingdom following 9/11 and the global financial crisis (Exhibit 1). Not only did business trips take four years to return to precrisis levels after the attacks on the World Trade Center but they also had not yet recovered to pre-financial-crisis levels when COVID-19 broke out in 2020. Therefore, we expect that as the pandemic subsides, the rise in leisure trips will outpace the recovery of business travel.

Some carriers are highly dependent on business travelers—both those traveling in business class and those who book economy-class seats right before they need to travel. While leisure passengers fill up most of the seats on flights and help cover a portion of fixed costs, their overall financial contributions in net marginal terms are negligible, if not negative. Most of the profits earned on a long-haul flight are generated by a small group of high-yielding passengers, often traveling for business. But this pool of profit-generating passengers has shrunk because of the pandemic.

A McKinsey Live event on 'Returning to corporate travel: How do we get it right?'

The call: Revisit flight economics

Airlines should reevaluate the economics of their operations, especially long-haul flights. First, a smaller contribution from business traffic could necessitate a different pricing logic. For example, today most carriers price point-to-point nonstop flights at a premium. Travelers who value time over price—mostly business travelers—book these nonstop flights. Leisure travelers, even those traveling in premium classes, are more price sensitive and may choose an indirect routing. This large gap between nonstop pricing and connect pricing may need to narrow.

Second, lower business traffic may require network changes. Airlines added many flights over the past few years between hubs and smaller cities, using small-size widebodies such as the Boeing 787. These flights work because of the high-yielding business demand. With business demand subdued, economics favor larger aircraft flying less frequently. Airlines may find that larger aircraft such as Airbus A350s or Boeing 777s—which have lower unit costs—become the base of the long-haul network.

Third, airlines may also look at reconfiguring the layout of their cabins to address the increased share of leisure traffic. At the simplest level, lower business-class demand may warrant smaller business-class cabins. Taking this further, products may shift to better cater to premium-leisure passengers, such as growth of premium-economy cabins or development of business-class seats more suitable for traveling as couples or groups.

2. Staggering debt levels will lead to ticket price increases and a larger role for government in the sector

Many airlines have had to borrow huge sums of money to stay afloat and cope with high daily cash burn rates. Tapping into state-provided aid, credit lines, and bond issuances, the industry collectively amassed more than $180 billion worth of debt in 2020, 1 “COVID-19 lowers airline credit ratings and raises the cost of debt,” International Air Transport Association, August 21, 2020, iata.org. a figure equivalent to more than half of total annual revenues that year. And debt levels are still rising (Exhibit 2). Repaying these loans is made even harder by worsening credit ratings and higher financing costs.

These costs will need to be recouped. Therefore, we’ll likely see ticket prices rise. By our estimates, this could amount to a rise in ticket prices of about 3 percent, assuming a ten-year repayment window for only the additional debt taken on.

Furthermore, when demand for air travel returns, it will likely outpace supply initially. We see a glut of latent demand of people eager to travel. It will take time for airlines to restore capacity, and bottlenecks such as delays in bringing aircraft back to service and crew retraining could lead to a supply–demand gap, resulting in higher short-term prices.

In many cases, airline rescue efforts come in the form of government bailouts—with strings attached. We’re seeing a reemergence of, or increase in, the level of state ownership and influence. In Europe alone, TAP Air Portugal, Lufthansa Group, and Air Baltic all received state aid combined with an increase or reintroduction of government shareholdings.

The call: Be a constructive collaborator

As the state becomes a more active player—whether as a creditor, a direct shareholder, or as part of the board—airlines will find themselves having to deal more closely with the authorities. Instead of seeing this as a necessary restriction to access much-needed funds, airlines can treat it as an opportunity to shape how the sector evolves with a key stakeholder.

Airlines can work with regulators to set standards across a gamut of issues. These could include committing to reductions in greenhouse-gas emissions in return for more labor flexibility; increasing the cash-on-hand requirements to make airlines more resilient against future shocks; more balanced value sharing between airlines and other sectors such as airports; or changes in the ownership caps to allow greater inflows of foreign capital, reducing the reliance on state capital further down the road.

3. We will see a greater disparity of performance among airlines in the future

Some airlines have responded to the pandemic by restructuring for greater efficiency; others are merely muddling through. Occasionally, this is linked to state-aid programs, which may reduce the incentive for much-needed measures such as cost, organizational, and operational restructuring. Airlines that are not proactively transforming risk failing to set the business up for longer-term structural value creation.

As such, we’re seeing some airlines pull ahead. Before COVID-19, an airline boasted an ROIC well ahead of the overall industry’s rate of 5.8 percent. Not only did its stronger position pre-COVID-19 enable it to navigate the crisis thus far without taking on government loans of the scale relative to other airlines, it also made it possible for it to restructure to emerge with an even more competitive cost base.

Another group of carriers that have an opportunity to transform their business are airlines that have access to a restructuring process, such as Chapter 11 in the United States. These carriers can renegotiate midlife leases, shed excess debt, and emerge leaner. They will be fierce competitors going forward.

The call: Aim higher when it comes to IT and digital investment

Becoming better can necessitate investment. Even though many airlines find themselves in financial straits, we recommend investing more in IT and digitalization, not less. Before the pandemic, airlines spent roughly 5 percent of their revenue on IT. This is relatively low compared with other sectors. By means of comparison, the retail industry spends around 6 percent on average, and financial services 10 percent.

Airlines could consider stepping up IT and automation investment now. For example, airlines can respond to the quicker recovery of domestic and short-haul flights by investing in direct sales and owning the customer relationship. Relationships with IT and distribution providers could be reexplored. Carriers can also invest in the customer experience—such as making check-in and boarding processes more seamless—and support services—from revenue accounting to invoicing—to drive the next level of efficiency. Beyond this, the next horizon is analytics, which involves, among other efforts, using data  in smarter ways to enhance decision making, requiring some investment but yielding significant payoffs .

4. Aircraft markets may be oversupplied for some time to come

In the years before COVID-19, aircraft OEMs ramped up production in the anticipation of continued growth. This has led to a glut in aircraft availability. Furthermore, some carriers have returned relatively new aircraft to lessors, such as Norwegian Air Shuttle when it exited the long-haul market. Prices for used-aircraft leases have plummeted and are likely to remain lower. For instance, the monthly lease rate of a 2016 vintage Boeing 777-300ER aircraft was around $1.2 million in 2019. In 2020, the rate fell to less than $800,000. New aircraft are rumored to be available at even deeper discounts.

The call: Act countercyclically now, if you can

If finances permit, carriers can consider acting countercyclically: locking in orders for new aircraft or confirming operating leases now when demand is low. Aircraft are a significant expense for an airline, making up 10 to 15 percent of a carrier’s cost base. As lease rates and OEM pricing fluctuate with supply and demand levels, inking deals during a crisis could allow carriers to enjoy a cost advantage for years to come.

5. Air freight will see undersupply for some time

Over the past ten years, low cargo rates and the unprofitability of the cargo business have led many airlines to relinquish or scale back their dedicated cargo freighter fleets. However, cargo has been a lifeline for the aviation industry during COVID-19. Before the pandemic, cargo typically made up around 12 percent of the sector’s total revenue; that percentage tripled last year. Based on data from the Airline Analyst, only 21 (down from 77 in 2019) of the airlines around the world that disclosed their operating performance achieved positive operating profits for the third quarter of 2020, traditionally the industry’s most profitable quarter. Among these 21 airlines, cargo revenue accounted for 49 percent of total revenues on average.

During the pandemic, e-commerce sales soared while many passenger flights—which are responsible for delivering around half of total air cargo—were grounded. As a result, cargo yields increased by about 30 percent last year. As commercial flights gradually return, belly supply will increase, although not to pre-COVID-19 levels for at least a few years, as the industry is expected stay smaller than before the pandemic for several years.

The call: Bring back freighters, carefully

In response to the high demand and low supply of air freight right now, carriers could investigate short- to medium-term opportunities to boost their cargo services. Airlines can enhance their flexibility through measures such as increasing the deployment of so-called preighters, or passenger airplanes that are used to transport cargo. Airlines may look at freighter conversions, especially as their passenger fleets reduce in number.

Airlines need to be agile. Rushing headlong into developing and maintaining a large freighter fleet again comes with risk. Airlines need to grow cargo in an agile way that allows for quick adjustments; pursuing such a play should be seen as part of a wider theme of establishing a more flexible production setup. High fixed costs combined with unpredictable demand levels outside an airline’s control increase the need for airlines to be able to scale down supply nimbly.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is far from over. There is some relief to be found in various parts of the world now that vaccinations have begun, but the road to recovery for air traffic will take several years. The shape of the post-COVID-19 airline sector is becoming clearer and holds lessons for airlines today. Multiple longer-running trends have been accelerated, such as digitization and the phasing out of less efficient aircraft. Burdened by debt, many carriers have depleted their cash reserves. But the forecast is not without bright spots. Travel will become greener and more efficient, and people are itching to travel again for holidays. Taking steps now will help airlines thrive in this transformed sector.

Jaap Bouwer is a senior expert in McKinsey’s Amsterdam office, Steve Saxon is a partner in the Shenzhen office, and Nina Wittkamp is a partner in the Munich office.

The authors wish to thank Alex Dichter and Vik Krishnan for their contributions to this article.

This article was edited by Jason Li, a senior editor in the Shanghai office.

Explore a career with us

Related articles.

Airline data: What next beyond crisis response?

Will airline hubs recover from COVID-19?

‘Prepare for the marathon and be ready for the course to change’: An interview with the Boston Logan Airport CEO

MUSEUM AND EXHIBITION CENTER: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

• (0.03 mi) Elektrostal Hotel
• (1.15 mi) Yakor Hotel
• (1.42 mi) Mini Hotel Banifatsiy
• (1.65 mi) Apelsin Hotel
• (1.33 mi) Elemash
• (0.20 mi) Prima Bolshogo
• (0.30 mi) Makecoffee
• (0.40 mi) Mazhor
• (0.42 mi) Amsterdam Moments
• (0.42 mi) Pechka

Sanatorium Valuyevo

View prices for your travel dates

• Excellent 13
• Very Good 22
• All languages ( 65 )
• Russian ( 65 )
• English ( 0 )

Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.

SANATORIUM VALUYEVO

Israel-Gaza latest: Israeli fighter jet hits West Bank in deadly strike; aid pier off Gaza coast 'not enough'

An Israeli fighter jet has struck the West Bank. Palestinian authorities say at least one person has been killed. Meanwhile, the bodies of three hostages have been recovered.

Friday 17 May 2024 22:57, UK

• Israel-Hamas war

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

• Israel says its fighter jet has hit West Bank
• IDF has 'seized bodies of three hostages from Gaza'
• They were murdered while celebrating life', IDF says | Netanyahu 'heartbroken' over deaths
• Alistair Bunkall: Discovery of bodies will reinforce Israeli belief that more hostages are in Rafah
• Israeli protesters attack truck in attempt to block aid reaching Gaza
• Spain bans ships carrying weapons for Israel from docking at its ports
• Scroll down for the latest on the Israel-Gaza war
• Listen to the Daily above and tap here  to follow wherever you get your podcasts

That's all for this evening, but if you're just catching up, here is a recap of the key developments.

• An Israeli fighter jet struck a refugee camp in the West Bank, killing at least one person and injuring eight;
• The bodies of three Israeli hostages were recovered from Gaza;
• An investigation was launched after a 450kg bomb fell from an Israeli fighter jet into an Israeli town;
• Spain banned ships carrying weapons for Israel from docking at its ports;
• Dozens of Israeli protesters in the West Bank attacked a truck in an apparent attempt to prevent aid from reaching Gaza, beating its driver and setting it on fire.

A group of US medical workers trapped at a hospital in Gaza have now left the territory, the White House says.

American doctors providing care in Gaza were unable to leave after Israel closed the Rafah border crossing.

Among them were 10 from the US-based Palestinian American Medical Association, who had intended to leave after a two-week mission at the European Hospital in Khan Younis.

Today, 17 American doctors and healthcare workers, out of a total of 20, left Gaza, White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said.

"I can assure you that any of them that wanted to leave are out," Mr Kirby said. 

Three of the doctors chose not to depart Gaza, a source familiar with the situation said.

The Palestinian American Medical Association reported on Wednesday that its team of 19 healthcare professionals, including 10 Americans, had been denied exit from Gaza

Israel seized and closed the Rafah border crossing between Gaza and Egypt on 7 May.

The number of people injured by an Israeli airstrike in the West Bank has risen to eight, according to the Palestinian health ministry.

They are in a stable condition and receiving treatment at hospitals, it said.

As we reported in our last post, at least one person has been killed by the attack on Jenin refugee camp.

Residents of the camp said a house was targeted.

Unlike Gaza, such a strike is a rarity in the West Bank, which is run by the Palestinian Authority, not Hamas.

The Israeli military says a fighter jet has carried out a strike in Jenin in the West Bank.

One person was killed and two injured, the Palestinian health ministry said.

While Palestinians live in both Gaza and the West Bank, the territories are controlled by distinct groups.

Hamas has ruled over Gaza since seizing control in 2007 following a brief civil war with the Palestinian Authority.

The West Bank, meanwhile, is still run by the Palestinian Authority, headed by president Mahmoud Abbas.

By Mark Stone , US correspondent

A three-year-old Palestinian girl with an ultra-rare genetic condition has been forced backwards in her quest to leave Gaza for life-saving treatment.

Julia Abu Zeiter, whose story is being followed by Sky News, was moved with her family from a tent in the southern city of Rafah and relocated to a supposedly safer zone to the north and further away from the border they had hoped to cross.

Speaking to Sky News, her mother Maha said: "We were going through the travel procedures to leave Gaza. When the time for us to travel through Rafah crossing got close, the Israelis occupied the crossing, and they told us they want to invade Rafah."

She added: "I was between two fires, not knowing where to go. Do I go try to travel to treat my daughter or do I flee to another place?"

Read on here...  

Israel has assured the US they are willing to continue discussions before making any major decisions on plans to assault Rafah, a US official has said.

White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said national security adviser Jake Sullivan will raise the issue on a visit to Israel to meet Benjamin Netanyahu.

Mr Sullivan will stress the need to go after Hamas in a targeted way, not with a full-scale assault on the southern city, Mr Kirby said.

He said it was important that the Rafah crossing was opened immediately.

The Israeli military seized control of the crossing between  Gaza and Egypt earlier this month.

Hamas says the US-built aid pier off Gaza's coast is no alternative to opening all land crossings under Palestinian supervision.

It added that they reject any military presence on Palestinian land.

Trucks carrying aid rolled across the pier today for the first time in an operation the US says will scale up to 150 truckloads a day.

But Gaza is already on the brink of famine, according to international aid organisations.

Aid groups also say land crossings are much more effective, and at least 500 trucks a day are required to meet the basic needs of the population.

Israeli restrictions on border crossings and heavy fighting have hindered the delivery of food and other supplies.

An investigation has been launched after a 450kg bomb fell from an Israeli fighter jet into an Israeli town this morning, according to reports.

Images showed the munition landed close to homes in Yated.

The Israeli military said it was intended for Rafah and described the incident as "unusual", reported the Times of Israel.

"Air Force technical teams arrived at the scene and began an in-depth investigation of the incident."

The Rafah strike was carried out moments later, the military said.

Israeli strikes on Lebanon have killed at least five people including Lebanese militants, Hamas fighters and Syrian civilians, security sources told Reuters.

A series of strikes on a coastal town further north than the usual conflict area killed a Hezbollah member as well as two Syrian civilians, the security sources said.

They said a separate Israeli strike on Majdal Anjar, on Lebanon's eastern border with Syria, killed two Hamas fighters.

Israel and Hezbollah have been exchanging fire across Lebanon's southern border for seven months in parallel with the Gaza war, but it has ramped up in recent days.

There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military.

The recovery of the bodies of three hostages from Gaza is a "painful reminder" of those who are still in captivity, says a member of the Hostages and Missing Families Forum.

Professor Hagai Levine said over the last day, rumours circulating about which bodies had been returned to Israel were "very painful for the families" of all the captives.

It was important to bring home the bodies of hostages to give their families closure, he said.

"We do not lose hope. We are preparing for the return of the hostages that are alive," he said.

"As long as we promote a solution to release the hostages, it will also help to prevent further bloodshed in Gaza."

Turning to the approach the Israeli government has taken, Mr Levine said the government "is not representing well the desires of the public".

"There is a majority in Israel that believe that we should now promote regional agreements and together with the moderate countries, not the extremists, we should kick out Hamas... and replace them with another kind of government.

"This could really bring peace and prosperity to the Palestinians and to Israelis and to the entire region and we feel that the government is not doing enough."

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free