Iran Air Resumes Quetta-Zahedan Flights After Suspension
QUETTA: Iran Air has resumed flights between Quetta and Zahedan after a temporary suspension, restoring a key air link between Pakistan and Iran.
Iran Air flight IRA 0827 arrived at Quetta International Airport from Zahedan on Tuesday before returning to the Iranian city with more than 80 passengers on board. The resumption is expected to make travel easier for traders and businesspeople while creating room to expand cross-border trade.
Iran Air Quetta Zahedan flights: the details
The resumption comes as business representatives from both sides look to strengthen commercial ties. During a meeting, Zahedan Chamber of Commerce President Haji Hakim Regi and members of Quetta’s business community discussed ways to increase bilateral trade, build business partnerships and improve cooperation between traders.
Iran Air launched routes connecting Quetta with Zahedan and Mashhad in December 2025. Balochistan Governor Jafar Khan Mandokhail inaugurated the services. The flights were later suspended due to the prevailing international situation, and the restored service is now expected to improve connectivity between Balochistan and Iran.
Flight tracking data shows the service operating weekly on the Quetta-Zahedan sector. The route serves business travellers, traders and other passengers moving between the neighbouring regions.
Why the route matters for Balochistan
The Quetta-Zahedan link is one of the few direct air connections between Pakistan and Iran. For Balochistan’s business community, it cuts out long overland journeys and opens a faster channel for trade with Iran’s Sistan-Baluchestan province.
The timing is notable. Pakistan’s commerce ministry has exempted 57 items from the mandatory Certificate of Origin requirement for trade with Iran, a step the business community has welcomed as a breakthrough for legal cross-border commerce. A direct flight between the two trading hubs gives that policy a practical transport backbone.
Religious travel is another factor. Large numbers of Pakistani pilgrims travel to Iran each year, and direct services from Quetta ease a journey that many previously made by road through remote border crossings.
When the route first launched in December 2025, the inaugural Airbus A319 touched down at Quetta International Airport to a ceremonial water cannon salute. Governor Mandokhail called the launch a significant milestone for bilateral ties, trade and cultural exchange between Balochistan and Iran, and voiced hope it would encourage greater regional integration. The service began as a once-weekly operation, with officials signalling that more frequencies could follow if passenger demand justified them.
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FAQs
Has Iran Air resumed Quetta-Zahedan flights?
Yes. Iran Air flight IRA 0827 arrived at Quetta International Airport from Zahedan on Tuesday and returned with more than 80 passengers, restoring the service after a suspension.
When did Iran Air launch the Quetta route?
Iran Air launched routes connecting Quetta with Zahedan and Mashhad in December 2025. Balochistan Governor Jafar Khan Mandokhail inaugurated the services.
Why were the flights suspended?
The flights were suspended due to the prevailing international situation, according to the airline’s announcement.
Who benefits from the resumed service?
Traders and businesspeople on both sides, religious pilgrims travelling to Iran, and ordinary passengers moving between Balochistan and Iran’s Sistan-Baluchestan province.
