Iranian visa applications rejected and foreign flights canceled as tensions escalate

The chairman of the board of directors of the Airline Bureaux Association announced the rejection of Iranian visa applications and the cancellation of foreign flights following the escalation of tensions.

Following the escalation of tensions between Tehran and Tel Aviv and concerns about the spread of conflicts in the Middle East, foreign flights to and from Iran have been canceled. “Incoming tours in the current situation have practically reached zero, and many economic and tourism enterprises have also gone bankrupt or are on the verge of going bankrupt,” said Amirpoyan Rafieishad, chairman of the board of directors of the Tehran Province Air Travel, Tourism and Pilgrimage Offices Association, on Wednesday, October 30 (November 9).

Referring to the continuous cancellation of international flights, he added: "Foreign travel, including inbound travel, has been affected by recent developments in the region, and European embassies are dealing with tourist visa applications from Iranian citizens in a special way, and the number of rejections of Iranian tourist visas has increased."

 Amir Rafiei had also announced at the beginning of this week following the cancellation of flights: "At the beginning of this week, due to the cancellation of flights, there was a lot of disruption in air travel, and although delays of more than two hours are subject to the cancellation law, the airlines announced a new time or an alternative time to passengers, while many passengers did not have alternative conditions, so they either traveled by land or canceled their trip altogether."

Regarding the challenges that arose after the cancellation of flights, he said: "This situation has become a problem and a crisis that has caused trouble for travel agencies, because hotels and airlines are not willing to refund costs. Currently, Emirates and Turkish airlines have closed the low-cost flight class to the Iranian market, and if the sanctions continue, we will have to have a non-Iranian partner in the flights, and they must provide facilities, because the market has been created for them, and under these conditions, they should not offer special and high rates or limit their services."

It should be noted that the suspension of flights by Emirates, Turkish Airlines, and Lufthansa to and from Iran continues, and the flight situation has not yet returned to normal.