Saha Airlines (, Havâpeymâyi-ye Sâhâ) is an Iranian airline based in Tehran that operates scheduled domestic flights. It is owned by the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force and banned from the European Union. It operates domestic passenger services as well as cargo charters and was the last civil operator of the Boeing 707 in the world.
History Saha Airlines was established in 1990 and is wholly owned by the Islamic Republic of Iran Air Force for military charters.Saha's 707 squadron Airliner World March 2026 pages 58-63 It initially flew cargo charters from Iran to Singapore.Flight International, February 13, 1991 In the summer of 1992 it began to operate with the Fokker F 27 for its civilian charters.JP airline fleets international, Edition 93/94 In 1998 the airline operated a diverse fleet of Fokker F 28s, Fokker F 27s, Boeing 707s and Boeing 747s.JP airline-fleets international, editions 98/99 and 1999/2000
On 3 May 2013, all flight operations were suspended. Saha Airlines began operating again in 2017 after receiving two Boeing 737 aircraft.
In October 2024. the European Union sanctioned Saha Airlines in response to Iran's shipments of missiles and drones to Russia for the war in Ukraine.
Destinations Saha Airlines serves the following destinations (as of April 2023):
Country City Airport Notes RefsIranAhvazQasem Soleimani International Airport AsaluyehPersian Gulf Airport Bandar AbbasBandar Abbas International Airport BushehrBushehr Airport IsfahanShahid Beheshti International Airport KishKish International Airport Lavan IslandLavan Airport MashhadShahid Hasheminejad International Airport QeshmQeshm International Airport RashtRasht Airport SariDasht-e Naz Airport ShirazShahid Dastgheib International Airport TabrizShahid Madani International Airport TehranMehrabad International AirportYazdShahid Sadooghi Airport
Fleet Current fleet
, Saha Airlines operates the following aircraft:
+ Saha Airlines fleetAircraftIn serviceOrdersNotes Boeing 737-3004—Boeing 747-200F1—CargoTotal5—
Former fleet
, Saha Airlines operated 3 Boeing 737-300 and 1 Boeing 747-200F
Saha Airlines formerly also operated the following aircraft types:
+ Saha Airlines former fleetAircraftYear RetiredNotes Boeing 707-300 2019 Crashed in 2019 while on a cargo flight. Was the last commercial 707 in service.
Accidents and incidents On 20 April 2005, Saha Airlines Flight 171, a Boeing 707-320C, registration EP-SHE, flying from Kish Island, crashed on landing at Mehrabad Airport, Tehran following an unstabilised approach with a higher than recommended airspeed. Gears and/or a tire failed after touchdown and the flight overran the far end of the runway. Of the 12 crew and 157 passengers on board, three passengers died.Saha Air Flight 171 crash report On August 3, 2009, a Boeing 707-3J9Cof Saha Airlines had an engine fire. On 14 Jan 2019, a Boeing 707 freighter crashed near Karaj, Iran The plane was supposed to land at Payam International Airport, but the crew mistakenly landed at Fath Air Base. Of the 16 people on board, only one survived. The aircraft was the last 707 in commercial service worldwide.
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