Caspian Airlines
An Iranian private airline operating domestic services and selected international routes from its Tehran base.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Caspian Airlines is an Iranian private airline headquartered in Tehran. Established in 1993 as a joint venture involving Iranian and Russian interests, it began operations in September of that year and developed a network linking Tehran with major Iranian cities. The carrier's principal base is Mehrabad International Airport in Tehran. The airline's business is centered on scheduled passenger transportation. Its domestic network has historically connected Tehran with cities across Iran, while its international operations have included services to destinations in neighboring countries and the wider Middle East, including Turkey and Iraq. The available reference material also reports later service to Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates, indicating an effort to serve Iranian communities and regional travel demand beyond the company's domestic network. Caspian Airlines has operated a mixed fleet of Soviet- and Western-designed aircraft. Earlier operations included Tupolev Tu-154 aircraft, while later fleet references include Boeing 737 variants and McDonnell Douglas MD-80-series aircraft. The airline's reliance on older aircraft types reflects the operating and procurement constraints affecting Iran's aviation sector, including restrictions on access to new aircraft, parts, financing, and maintenance supply chains. In 2019, reporting indicated that Caspian Airlines and Taban Air expanded their Boeing 737 fleets. The carrier has experienced several serious operational events. Caspian Airlines Flight 7908, operated by a Tupolev Tu-154M, crashed near Qazvin on 15 July 2009 while flying from Tehran to Yerevan, killing all 168 people aboard. Later incidents involved runway excursions and aircraft-control or landing-gear problems: an MD-83 overran the runway at Bandar Mahshahr in 2020, an MD-83 exceeded its assigned altitude during a 2021 flight after an autopilot malfunction, and a Boeing 737-400 departed the runway at Isfahan in 2022 after a main landing-gear collapse. These events have been part of the airline's publicly documented safety history, although the supplied material does not establish a single broader conclusion about its current safety performance. Caspian Airlines was designated by the United States Department of the Treasury in December 2016. The stated US rationale was that the airline had supported elements of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps by transporting personnel and illicit material, including weapons, from Iran to Syria. The designation is a significant part of the company's international operating context and may affect financial transactions, aircraft procurement, insurance, and access to foreign aviation services. The airline remains an Iranian scheduled carrier whose principal identity is associated with domestic passenger flights from Tehran and regional international services. Detailed information about its ownership, current executives, current fleet composition, financial performance, and present route schedule is not established in the supplied sources.
History
Caspian Airlines was established in Iran in 1993 and commenced operations in September of that year. The airline was created as a joint venture between Iranian and Russian interests, reflecting the international relationships used by Iranian aviation businesses during a period when access to aircraft and aviation equipment was constrained. It completed construction of its headquarters in Tehran during its founding year. Reference material states that the headquarters tower was later exchanged with Mahan Air for three Tupolev Tu-154 aircraft. From its Tehran base at Mehrabad International Airport, Caspian Airlines developed scheduled services to major cities throughout Iran. The domestic network formed the core of its business, while the company also operated selected international flights. The routes identified in the available material include services between Tehran and destinations in Turkey and Iraq, with the carrier's regional footprint extending into the Middle East. A later report said the airline began flying to Sharjah in December 2025, adding another regional destination and bringing service to a reported total of five Iranian cities. The airline's fleet history illustrates the transition from Soviet-era equipment toward Western-built aircraft. It previously operated Tupolev Tu-154 aircraft and later used McDonnell Douglas MD-82 and MD-83 aircraft, as well as Boeing 737-300 and Boeing 737-500 aircraft. One Boeing 737-500 was reported as leased from Khors Aircompany. Reference material also reported fleet growth involving Boeing 737 aircraft in 2019. A complete and verified current fleet list is not available in the supplied material. On 15 July 2009, Caspian Airlines Flight 7908 crashed near Qazvin while operating from Tehran to Yerevan. The Tupolev Tu-154M carried 153 passengers and 15 crew members; all 168 people died. The crash became the airline's most consequential safety event. On 27 January 2020, Flight 6936, an MD-83 registered as EP-CPZ, suffered a runway excursion at Bandar Mahshahr Airport. The aircraft came to rest on a road, and two people among the 144 passengers and crew were injured. A further operational event occurred on 12 April 2021. An MD-83 operating Flight 6984 from Tehran to Kish climbed above its assigned altitude following an autopilot malfunction. A Qatar Airways Airbus A350 operating Flight 739 from Doha to Los Angeles received a traffic collision avoidance system alert and made an evasive climb. Both aircraft continued to their destinations and landed safely. The Aviation Herald reported additional automated warnings affecting the Qatar aircraft, while Qatar Airways disputed that characterization in the cited account. On 5 January 2022, Caspian Airlines Flight 6904, a Boeing 737-400 registered EP-CAP, veered off the runway while landing at Isfahan International Airport. The reported cause was the collapse of the left main landing gear. Five of the 116 people aboard were injured. Caspian Airlines' international operating environment was significantly affected by US sanctions announced in December 2016. The US Department of the Treasury alleged that the airline supported Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps elements by transporting personnel and illicit material, including weapons, from Iran to Syria. This designation is both a regulatory event and a major factor in assessing the carrier's ability to conduct international business, obtain aircraft and parts, and use foreign financial and aviation-service providers. The supplied sources do not identify a founder, parent company, controlling owner, chief executive, financial results, or a definitive current fleet. They also do not provide enough information to describe the airline's present route schedule in full. Caspian Airlines is nevertheless described as an active Iranian private carrier focused on domestic passenger services and selected regional international operations.
- 2025
Reported Sharjah service
[1]Reference material reported the launch of Caspian Airlines service to Sharjah.
- 2022
Isfahan landing incident
[1]Flight 6904 departed the runway at Isfahan after a left main landing-gear collapse, injuring five people.
- 2021
Altitude deviation involving Flight 6984
[1]An autopilot malfunction caused an MD-83 to exceed its assigned altitude, prompting a traffic alert involving a Qatar Airways aircraft.
- 2020
Bandar Mahshahr runway excursion
[1]Flight 6936, operated by an MD-83, left the runway at Bandar Mahshahr and stopped on a road; two people were injured.
- 2019
Reported Boeing 737 fleet growth
[1]Reference material reported that Caspian Airlines and Taban Air expanded their Boeing 737 fleets.
- 2016
US Treasury designation
[1]The US Treasury sanctioned the airline over alleged support for IRGC-related transportation between Iran and Syria.
- 2009
Flight 7908 crash
[1]A Caspian Airlines Tu-154M flying from Tehran to Yerevan crashed near Qazvin, killing all 168 people aboard.
- 1993
Establishment and launch
[1]Caspian Airlines was established in Iran as a joint venture involving Iranian and Russian interests and began operations in September.
Products and positioning
An Iranian private carrier focused on domestic connectivity and selected regional international routes.
Scheduled air transportation · 1993
Domestic passenger services
Caspian Airlines' core offering is scheduled passenger transportation between Tehran and other major Iranian cities. These services provide domestic connectivity within Iran and form the foundation of the carrier's network.
International air transportation
Regional international passenger services
The airline operates or has operated selected international routes from Iran to nearby markets. The supplied material identifies Turkey and Iraq and reports later service to Sharjah, although it does not provide a complete current international schedule.
Aircraft fleet
Boeing 737 operations
Boeing 737 aircraft have formed part of Caspian Airlines' Western-built fleet. Reported examples include the 737-300, 737-400, and 737-500, with at least one 737-500 described as leased from Khors Aircompany.
Aircraft fleet
McDonnell Douglas MD-80 operations
The airline has operated MD-82 and MD-83 aircraft. These aircraft were used on scheduled passenger flights, including the MD-83 involved in the 2020 Bandar Mahshahr runway excursion and the 2021 altitude-deviation event.
Controversies
Brand decisions
2025
Reported launch of Sharjah serviceProduct launchBackground
Reference material reported that the airline expanded its regional network in late 2025.
Action taken
Caspian Airlines began flying to Sharjah, according to the cited report.
Aftermath
The reported launch added a United Arab Emirates destination to the carrier's international offering.
2019
Reported expansion of Boeing 737 operationsGeneration changeBackground
Reference material described fleet growth involving Boeing 737 aircraft at Caspian Airlines and Taban Air.
Action taken
The airlines expanded their Boeing 737 fleets, although the supplied material does not specify the number of aircraft added.
Aftermath
The reported change reinforced the role of Boeing 737 aircraft in Caspian Airlines' fleet mix.
1993
Creation of an Iranian-Russian joint-venture airlineStrategyBackground
Caspian Airlines was established through a partnership involving Iranian and Russian interests as Iran's private aviation sector developed.
Action taken
The partners formed the airline and commenced scheduled operations in September 1993.
Aftermath
The carrier built its business around domestic Iranian connectivity and selected regional international services.
Sources1 sources
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