Imam Khomeini International Airport — Tehran, Iran

IKA opened in the mid-2000s roughly thirty kilometers south of central Tehran, taking over nearly all international air traffic from the older, more centrally located Mehrabad field, which today handles primarily domestic flights and military operations. Named after the religious and political leader who led Iran's 1979 revolution, the airport serves as the country's principal gateway to Europe, Asia, and the Gulf, hosting Iran Air alongside a mix of foreign carriers whose presence has shifted over the years with changing sanctions regimes. The terminal complex, built with a distinctly modern design contrasting with much of Tehran's older infrastructure, has expanded gradually to add cargo facilities and additional gates. Ground transportation into the capital includes highway links and a rail connection under long-term development, reflecting the challenge of connecting a sprawling facility to a congested, mountain-ringed metropolis.