Tehran (dpa) - There has been a 96-per-cent decrease in the number of flight passengers due to the coronavirus pandemic in Iran, official figures released on Monday showed.
The national aviation authority registered 84-per-cent fewer international flights, 96-per-cent fewer passengers and 80-per-cent less air freight last month than before the outbreak of the pandemic.
Civilian air traffic has been particularly hard hit by the coronavirus, the authority said on Monday, according to the state news agency IRNA.
After the outbreak of the coronavirus crisis at the end of February, fewer and fewer foreign airlines have been flying to Iran. In addition, only foreigners or Iranians with a foreign passport, a long-term residence permit or confirmation of an urgent business trip are allowed to board a plane.
Iranian tourists are not allowed to fly until further notice.
The coronavirus pandemic has hit Iran particularly hard. According to the Ministry of Health on Saturday, the current number of deaths related to the virus is over 23,000, and the number of infections detected so far is more than 400,000.
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