Superdeals: 40–80% off flights from Europe to Iran

Direct flight routes to Iran

Limited non-stop flight options exist between Europe and Iran’s major airports (IKA, THR).

• Istanbul (IST) to Tehran (IKA) – Turkish Airlines – 3h 15m


• Vienna (VIE) to Tehran (IKA) – Iran Air – 4h 45m


• Frankfurt (FRA) to Tehran (IKA) – Iran Air – 5h 20m


• Paris (CDG) to Tehran (IKA) – Iran Air – 5h 45m

Layover/stopover options

Istanbul (IST) – Turkish Airlines hub, efficient 2-3 hour connections, extensive network to Iranian cities, modern airport facilities with good amenities for transit passengers.

Doha (DOH) – Qatar Airways hub, typical connections of 3-4 hours, excellent transit facilities, free city tours for longer layovers.

Dubai (DXB) – Emirates hub, connections averaging 4 hours, multiple daily frequencies to several Iranian cities, extensive shopping options during transit.

Time vs money

Direct flights typically command premium prices but save 4-8 hours of total travel time. Layover options through Middle Eastern hubs often offer 30-50% lower fares with total journey times increasing by 4-12 hours.

Tips and recommendations

• Book layover flights as a single ticket rather than separate segments for better protection and luggage transfer


• Istanbul routes offer the best compromise between travel time and cost for most European departures


• Longer layovers (6+ hours) in Doha and Dubai can be turned into mini-city visits with free transit tours


• Mid-week departures typically offer better availability and lower fares than weekend flights


• Consider seasonal variations – prices peak during Iranian New Year (March) and summer months

• Turkish Airlines operates the densest network to Iran through Istanbul, serving Tehran, Mashhad, Tabriz, and Isfahan with convenient connections from 25 European cities. Their A321neo aircraft deployed on Iranian routes feature 18-inch-wide Economy seats with 31-inch pitch. Average fares through Istanbul run 15-20% lower than direct flights, with particularly good deals from secondary European cities like Prague and Budapest.
• Qatar Airways offers superior comfort on long-haul routes to Tehran via Doha, using modern A350s and 787s from European gateways with generous 32-inch pitch in Economy. The Doha routing adds 2-4 hours to total journey time but typically saves 25-30% compared to direct flights, especially from Scandinavian departure points.
• Lufthansa maintains daily direct flights from Frankfurt to Tehran using A330-300 aircraft with upgraded Economy cabin featuring 31-inch pitch and enhanced recline. While ticket prices run higher than one-stop options, the airline often releases competitive advance purchase fares 6-8 months before departure.
• IranAir’s twice-weekly service from Hamburg and Cologne offers the lowest direct fares to Tehran, operating A330-200s with basic but adequate 31-inch pitch Economy seating. The airline recently upgraded its booking system to accept international credit cards and introduced flexible booking conditions.
• Austrian Airlines provides reliable connectivity to Tehran via Vienna with short layovers under 2 hours and competitive fares from Eastern European cities. Their A320 aircraft feature standardized Economy seats with 30-inch pitch, and the airline frequently runs promotional fares up to 40% below market average during off-peak seasons.

1. Booking direct flights only Many travelers overlook convenient one-stop connections via Istanbul, Doha, or Dubai that are often significantly cheaper than limited direct flights to Tehran.
2. Not checking visa requirements before booking Iran’s visa rules are complex and vary by nationality, so failing to secure the necessary visa or pre-approval before purchasing tickets can result in denied boarding and lost airfare.
3. Flying during Nowruz season unprepared Booking flights to Iran during the Persian New Year (late March) without advance planning leads to extremely high fares and limited availability as this is peak domestic and international travel time.
4. Ignoring IKA airport location Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKA) is located far from the city center, and travelers who don’t pre-arrange transportation often face long delays and inflated taxi fares after landing.
5. Last-minute currency exchange Not arranging foreign currency before arrival can be problematic since international credit cards don’t work in Iran, and airport exchange rates are typically unfavorable.

Turkish Airlines

Best for: Most comprehensive network with flights from 27 European cities to Iran, including London, Paris, and Frankfurt.

Turkish Airlines offers consistent service through Istanbul hub to 4 Iranian destinations (Tehran, Mashhad, Tabriz, Isfahan). Economy class features comfortable seats with 31-32″ pitch and high-quality Turkish cuisine. Average layover in Istanbul is 3-4 hours, with good airport facilities. Passenger ratings consistently above 4/5 for economy service.

Lufthansa

Best for: Most reliable direct flights from Central Europe with superior German punctuality.

Operating from 8 European cities (mainly Frankfurt, Munich, Vienna) to Tehran, Lufthansa provides dependable service with modern aircraft fleet. Economy seats offer 31″ pitch with adjustable headrests. Hot meals are good quality, though less exotic than Middle Eastern carriers. Excellent on-time performance and baggage handling.

Emirates

Best for: Superior inflight entertainment and meal service, even in economy class.

Connects 15 European cities (including London, Paris, Rome) to Tehran via Dubai. Economy cabin features generous 32-34″ seat pitch and over 4,500 entertainment channels. Distinguished for its multicultural cabin crew and extensive meal options. Dubai layover typically 4-5 hours with excellent airport amenities.

Qatar Airways

Best for: Overall comfort and service quality in economy class.

Services Iran from 12 European cities (including London, Paris, Manchester) via Doha. Features spacious 32″ seat pitch in economy and highly rated catering. Doha hub offers efficient connections with average 3-hour layovers. Consistently receives high passenger satisfaction scores for economy service quality and staff attentiveness.

Regional airline strategy for Europe-Iran travel

Savvy travelers can significantly reduce costs on Europe-Iran routes by leveraging Asian regional carriers through creative routing. This strategy, while requiring additional planning, can lead to substantial savings.

Key advantages

1. Lower base fares through carriers like Air Asia, making the total cost competitive even with additional segments
2. More flexible routing options via major APAC hubs like Kuala Lumpur or Bangkok
3. Generous baggage allowances on full-service regional carriers like Malaysia Airlines

Best routing approach

Book separate tickets: one from Europe to a major Asian hub (consider Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur), then connect to Iran using regional carriers like Malaysia Airlines or Thai Airways. These airlines often price their Middle East routes competitively to compete with Gulf carriers.

Money-saving tips

1. Book Europe-Asia legs during low seasons (October-November)
2. Use budget carriers for the Europe-Asia portion
3. Consider longer layovers to secure better fares
4. Mix and match airlines for optimal pricing