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IKA Imam Khomeini International Airport

Reviewed & updated by יהב עטיה · About the team

Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKA) serves Tehran, about 40 km southwest of Tehran. Below: trains and buses from the terminal, an estimated taxi fare to town and nearby cities, where you can fly from here, and hotels nearby.

IATAIKA
ICAOOIIE
ServesTehran
From centre39 km
Non-stop43
Airlines21
TimezoneAsia/Tehran
Elevation1007 m

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The airport in numbers

Imam Khomeini International Airport — facts & history

We pulled Imam Khomeini International Airport's numbers from the open aviation datasets — 7.7M passengers in 2024, against a peak of 8.5M in 2017.

Opened
2004
22 years ago
Passengers / year
7.7M
as of 2024
Peak traffic
8.5M
in 2017
Elevation
1007 מ׳
above sea level
Operator
Imam Khomeini Airport City
Passengers per year, 2005–2024

Figures: Wikidata (CC0) · Wikipedia

Airport to city

Getting from Imam Khomeini International Airport to Tehran

The airport is about 40 km southwest of Tehran, about 55 minutes by road in normal traffic.

Train & bus: Check in advance whether a train or shuttle bus runs from the terminal — at many airports it's the fastest and cheapest way into town.

Taxi & apps: Take a taxi from the official rank with the meter, or pre-book a ride on a known app. Avoid drivers touting for a fare in the arrivals hall.

Tipping: Rounding up is accepted almost everywhere.

Transport guidance is generic for this country — check exact details on the airport's own site.

Way inTime to centreCost
Train / bus~39 mincheapestCHEAPEST
Taxi~55 minmetered
Private transfer~55 minfixed upfront
Car rental~55 min + חניהfrom the terminal
Distances

From IKA to nearby cities

Estimated drive times in normal traffic, and an approximate taxi fare at the local tariff. A pre-booked transfer is usually cheaper.

DestinationDistanceDriveTaxi (est.)
Karaj49 km68 min—
Kashan159 km167 min—
Choose and book

Which way suits you from Imam Khomeini International Airport

Taxi

Cheapest for a short trip, one or two people.

Private transfer

Fixed price upfront, driver with a sign. For a late arrival, bags, kids or a group.

Car rental

If you're touring the region. Desks in the terminal, booking ahead beats the counter.

Train or bus is usually the cheapest — details above.

Book your airport transfer in Tehran ahead, no terminal surprises.

Route network

Where you can fly from Imam Khomeini International Airport

Non-stop flights to about 43 destinations, operated by 21 airlines. The busiest routes:

Airlines here: Iran Air · Mahan Air · Iran Aseman Airlines · Turkish Airlines · Etihad Airways · Air Arabia · Gulf Air Bahrain · Azerbaijan Airlines · Atlasjet · Kuwait Airways

At the airport

Left luggage & lost and found at Imam Khomeini International Airport

Most large airports offer left-luggage inside the terminal, usually by the hour or day and with a size limit. A common, cheaper alternative: in-city storage points near stations and sights — handy for an early arrival before check-in, or after check-out.

Something lost in the terminal is handled by the airport's lost-and-found office (usually near baggage claim); something left on the plane is the airline's responsibility. Keep your flight details, seat number and a description of the item.

Sleep nearby

Hotels near Imam Khomeini International Airport

For an early connection — a hotel by the terminal saves a taxi and a headache.

Rates in Tehran shift daily. See what your night costs now.

Reviews — Imam Khomeini International Airport

No reviews yet — be the first to share.

Airports nearby

Other options near Tehran

Same country

Other airports in Iran

Q&A

Answers to your questions

How do I get from Imam Khomeini International Airport to the centre of Tehran?
Check in advance whether a train or shuttle bus runs from the terminal — at many airports it's the fastest and cheapest way into town. The airport is about 40 km southwest of Tehran, about 55 minutes by road.
Can I use a ride app from Imam Khomeini International Airport?
Take a taxi from the official rank with the meter, or pre-book a ride on a known app. Avoid drivers touting for a fare in the arrivals hall.
What's the cheapest way from Imam Khomeini International Airport to Tehran?
Train or bus, almost always — usually a fraction of the taxi fare. Check in advance whether a train or shuttle bus runs from the terminal — at many airports it's the fastest and cheapest way into town.
Can I get from Imam Khomeini International Airport into town without a car?
Yes. Check in advance whether a train or shuttle bus runs from the terminal — at many airports it's the fastest and cheapest way into town. For a late arrival or a lot of bags, a pre-booked transfer is easier.
Where can I fly non-stop from Imam Khomeini International Airport?
About 43 destinations, including Istanbul, Dubai, Istanbul, Ankara. 21 airlines operate here.
Can I leave luggage at the airport?
Most large airports have a left-luggage service, and there are also in-city storage points near stations and sights that are usually cheaper with no size limit.
Where is Imam Khomeini International Airport's lost and found?
Items found in the terminal (not on the aircraft) are handled by the airport's lost-and-found office — usually near baggage claim or the information desks, sometimes one office per terminal. Anything left on the plane is the airline's responsibility. Current contact details are on Imam Khomeini International Airport's official site.
How do I know which terminal my flight leaves from at Imam Khomeini International Airport?
The terminal is on your boarding pass and booking confirmation, and updates on the departure boards at the entrance. Rule of thumb: each airline works from a fixed terminal, and airlines in the same alliance are usually grouped together. With a connection, check whether you change terminals and how long that takes.
Tehran city guide← Iran travel guideAll airports

About this page

Written and checked by the Around the World team. We compare prices across the major providers, cross-check official sources, and update when something changes. We have no stake in any one provider — links are affiliate links, and the price is the same for you.

Sources: Airport data: OpenFlights (ODbL) · Route network: OpenFlights routes

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