Mehrabad International Airport is one of the oldest and most important airports in Iran, located in the western part of Tehran. The airport was officially established in 1938 and was named after the former village of Mehrabad, which once existed in the same area. For decades, Mehrabad served as Iran’s main international gateway before most international flights were transferred to Imam Khomeini International Airport. Even today, Mehrabad remains the primary hub for domestic air travel. In 2015 alone, it recorded more than 132,000 aircraft landings and takeoffs, transported over 111 million kilograms of cargo, and served more than 16 million passengers, reflecting its continued strategic importance in Iran’s transportation network.
Historically, the village of Mehrabad was originally known as Hosseinabad and belonged to Haji Mirza Aghasi, the prime minister of Mohammad Shah Qajar. He later gifted the land to Naser al-Din Shah. The area eventually became part of the dowry of Esmat al-Dawlah, who, together with her husband Dost Mohammad Khan, renamed it Mehrabad. Due to financial difficulties, the property later left the family’s possession, and appeals made during the reign of Reza Shah proved unsuccessful. This layered history gives Mehrabad Airport both modern significance and deep historical roots.
