Iran's airline, Mahan Air, has resumed passenger flights to China, restoring connections between Tehran and Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou as the country's airspace gradually reopens. On Monday evening, after a seven-hour flight, 18 passengers landed in the Chinese capital on a commercial flight from Tehran — some on business or for studies, others to reunite with their families.

One passenger described the flight as surprisingly calm, noting the unusually light load. He said everything went well during the flight and it was very smooth, adding that the lack of crowding was a pleasant surprise: 18 people on a large plane, allowing them to sleep across four seats, for example. However, despite the calm journey, he admitted to feeling some anxiety, constantly thinking that if they took off, a fighter jet might approach. The passenger confessed that he was nervous throughout the trip until the plane left the country's airspace.

Mahan Air announced last week that it was resuming flights between Iran and China, signaling a fragile recovery for civil aviation in the Middle East following the war launched by the United States and Israel against Iran in late February. Flight tracking data shows that regional airspace remains partially restricted, indicating that aviation conditions have not yet fully normalized. One passenger admitted feeling stressed about the need to return, because fighting might break out within a week, forcing them to stay or find alternative routes through other countries.

This latest phase of Mahan Air's operations is scheduled through the end of May, and whether it continues thereafter will depend on the evolving geopolitical situation. Iran closed its airspace after the joint US-Israeli strikes on February 28, halting civil aviation across the country. The nation began resuming flights on April 18, starting with its eastern airspace and smaller airports. The Civil Aviation Organization has stated that operations will return to normal after military and civilian authorities complete their technical and operational preparations.