Iran’s flag carrier IranAir will resume its flights to the United Kingdom on May 6 after a months-long ban imposed to curb the spread of the so-called British variant of the coronavirus into Iran.
An IranAir spokesman said on Sunday that regular flights to the UK will take place on Sundays and Thursdays as of early next month.
Hossein Jahani said the decision to restore the route which had been closed in late December came following an easing of the coronavirus-related restrictions in Britain where the number of infections has declined in recent weeks.
However, Iran’s transportation minister said that travel bans imposed by the government for disease control purposes currently cover destinations in 39 countries, including the UK.
Mohammad Eslami said the ban on flights to and from Britain would be valid at least until early May.
He said strict testing mechanisms would be in place at borders and in airports to screen the arrivals.
The resumption of IranAir flights to the UK comes despite a new rise in coronavirus cases in Iran, the country hardest hit by the pandemic in the Middle East region.