Turkish Airlines, Pegasus, AJet halt Iran flights as US sanctions take effect

Turkish Airlines and budget carriers AJet and Pegasus have canceled all flights to and from Iran starting September 21, as new United States sanctions targeting Iran's aviation sector took effect, according to a review by Middle East Eye and a report from Iran International.

The Turkish Airlines and AJet websites show no flights to Iran scheduled until March 2027, while Pegasus appears to have removed all Iran routes from its booking system for the foreseeable future. A Turkish Airlines representative told Iran International by phone that the carrier had no flights scheduled to Iran before March 2027 and could not guarantee service would resume even after that date.

The suspension comes as Washington intensifies its campaign against Iran's aviation sector, targeting Iranian airlines as well as foreign companies accused of supporting their operations.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Monday that Iranian airlines would effectively be barred from international operations starting Sept. 23 under sweeping US sanctions, warning that airports and companies providing services to sanctioned Iranian carriers could themselves face American penalties, Iran International reported.