Turkish Airlines, Turkey’s national carrier, has canceled 17 flights to three major Iranian cities amid ongoing nationwide protests in Iran that began on December 28, triggered by a sharp currency devaluation and worsening economic conditions.
The cancellations affect passengers on Turkey’s busiest international routes, disrupting travel and leaving many stranded or forced to make last-minute itinerary changes.
A Turkish Airlines plane bound for Shiraz and a Pegasus flight to Mashhad reportedly turned back from Iranian airspace on Thursday night, according to Flight Radar.
In an official statement, the airline cited “regional developments in Iran” as the reason for canceling flights scheduled for Friday, January 9, and Saturday, January 10, to Tehran, Tabriz, and Mashhad.
The cancellations come as the Iranian government faces growing unrest over economic hardships, with demonstrators challenging authorities under Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The protests have intensified this week across Iran, a country bordering Turkey for roughly 500 kilometres, with three active land crossings connecting the two nations.
While Iranian authorities have not released official casualty figures, the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) reported 42 deaths, including eight security personnel, and more than 2,200 arrests by the twelfth day of demonstrations.
Earlier in the day, Iran issued a new aviation warning, according to local media reports, suspending all flights at Tehran’s Oiix Airport as authorities widened airspace restrictions amid heightened military activity and growing nationwide protests.
A series of active Notices to Air Missions (NOTAMs) issued recently indicated increased defensive measures across multiple parts of the country as anti-government protests escalated, particularly in the capital.
