What Zagros Airlines does

Zagros Airlines (شرکت هواپیمایی زاگرس) is a privately-held Iranian commercial airline founded in 2005 and registered in Arvand Free Zone, headquartered in Tehran. It operates a mixed fleet of 19 aircraft — Airbus A320 family (A319/A320/A321) and Boeing/MD platforms — providing over 3,400 seats across more than 25 domestic destinations (Tehran, Mashhad, Shiraz, Isfahan, Kish, Ahvaz, and others) and select international routes including Tehran-Najaf, Tehran-Tashkent, and Tehran-Tbilisi, with a historical Tehran-Damascus service. The airline holds Part 145 and Part M aviation maintenance certifications, enabling in-house engineering and continuing airworthiness management, and operates a modern in-house catering facility. Distribution is hybrid: a direct-to-consumer online booking and check-in platform (nrs.zagrosairlines.com, plus English-language localization), dedicated counters at Mehrabad Terminal 1 (domestic) and Imam Khomeini International Airport (international), and a network of authorized travel agencies across Iran and abroad.

The company monetizes primarily through passenger ticket sales on domestic and international routes, supplemented by excess baggage fees (20 kg free domestic, 25 kg free international), special passenger services (medical clearance, wheelchair assistance, unaccompanied minors), and ancillary services. Customer segments include individual domestic travelers (leisure, pilgrimage, business), international travelers (notably religious pilgrimage to Najaf), and authorized travel agencies acting as resellers. Tickets are sold under multiple fare classes whose pricing is not publicly disclosed, are valid for 6 months from issuance, and refunds are restricted to the original cardholder. The airline carries more than 4 million passengers annually, reported 75% passenger growth and 35% route growth in a recent period, and operates an in-house safety reporting system and complaints management framework.

The business operates in a constrained environment shaped by Iranian civil aviation regulation, sanctions-related fleet and financing limitations, and a competitive domestic airline market. Zagros has no disclosed parent company, no disclosed funding rounds, no public leadership team bios in the source data, and no evidence of AI/ML, software platform, or technology-product ambition beyond standard airline e-commerce tooling.

Name

Zagros Airlines

Legal name

Zagros Airlines (شرکت هواپیمایی زاگرس)

Website

https://zagrosairlines.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Zagros Airlines is a privately-held Iranian commercial airline operating a 19-aircraft Airbus and Boeing/MD fleet across 25+ domestic destinations and select international routes, carrying over 4 million passengers annually through direct online booking, airport counters, and authorized travel agencies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Passenger Air Transportation

NAICS

Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation (481111)

SIC

Air Transportation, Scheduled (4512)

akta.pro primary industry

Network Airlines (Full-Service, Flag & Regional) (TLAFAAAA)

Keywords

• Passenger air transportation
• Domestic flight services
• International flight operations
• Online flight booking
• Aircraft maintenance services

Headquarters

HQ city

Tehran

HQ country

Iran

HQ region

Middle East

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Passenger Ticket Sales (Domestic & International): The primary revenue stream for Zagros Airlines is the sale of air tickets on domestic routes within Iran and international routes. The airline operates over 3400 seats across its fleet and serves domestic destinations including Tehran, Mashhad, Shiraz, Isfahan, Kish, Ahvaz, and others, as well as international routes such as Tehran–Damascus, Najaf, Tashkent, and Tbilisi.
2. Excess Baggage & Special Services Fees: Revenue is generated from excess baggage fees — 20 kg permitted free for domestic flights and 25 kg for international flights per passenger. Additional revenue derives from special passenger services including medical clearances, wheelchair assistance, and unaccompanied minor handling.
3. Online Booking Platform Services: The airline operates its own online booking and check-in platform (nrs.zagrosairlines.com), providing direct-to-consumer flight reservation, seat selection, and online check-in services for passengers.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Zagros Airlines provides scheduled domestic and international passenger air transportation across Iran and select international destinations (Najaf, Tashkent, Tbilisi) using a mixed fleet of 19 Airbus A319/A320/A321 and Boeing MD aircraft. The airline distributes tickets via its own online reservation platform, physical counters at Mehrabad and Imam Khomeini airports, and a network of authorized travel agencies. It supports operations with Part 145 and Part M certified in-house aircraft maintenance and a modern in-house catering facility.

Product overview

Zagros Airlines operates as a commercial airline with a primary web-based booking platform offering online flight reservation, check-in, and seat selection services. The airline's digital offering centers on its Persian and English websites, supported by a network of physical sales offices and travel agency partners across Iran. The company provides operational services including in-house catering and engineering/maintenance with Part 145 and Part M certifications. Additional services include a safety reporting system and passenger complaints management. The fleet consists of 19 aircraft (Airbus 320/321/319 and McDonnell Douglas MD) serving domestic routes (Tehran, Mashhad, Kish, Shiraz, Isfahan, and others) and international routes (Najaf, Baghdad, Tashkent, Tbilisi).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Scheduled Domestic Passenger Flights Scheduled point-to-point passenger air transportation across 21+ domestic Iranian destinations, operated from Mehrabad International Airport Terminal 1 using the airline's fleet of Airbus A319, A320, A321 and Boeing MD aircraft. Available to adult, child, and infant passengers booking via direct online, airport counters, or authorized travel agencies.
• Scheduled International Passenger Flights Scheduled international passenger flights connecting Iran with destinations including Najaf (Iraq), Tashkent (Uzbekistan), and Tbilisi (Georgia), operated from Imam Khomeini International Airport. International check-in opens 3 hours before departure and closes 30 minutes before departure.
• Online Flight Booking Web-based reservation platform enabling passengers to search domestic and international flights, choose one-way or round-trip itineraries, specify passenger counts (adults, children, infants), and complete ticket purchase directly.
• Online Check-in Digital check-in service allowing passengers to obtain boarding passes and select seats online prior to flight departure.
• Aircraft Engineering and Maintenance Services In-house aircraft engineering and maintenance services holding Part 145 (aircraft maintenance engineering) and Part M (continuing airworthiness management) certifications, enabling the airline to perform maintenance and airworthiness management on its own fleet.
• In-flight Catering Services In-house catering facility equipped with modern devices conforming to current standards, preparing in-flight meals served on Zagros Airlines flights.
• English-Language Booking Website Localized English-language version of the Zagros Airlines website providing flight booking capabilities and company information for international travelers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4+ million passengers transported annually
• +3 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Iran Air: Iran Air is Iran's flag carrier, the largest and most established airline in the country, operating the broadest domestic and international network. It is a broad incumbent that competes with Zagros across virtually the same domestic and regional international route set.

Direct peers

• Kish Air: Kish Air is a private Iranian scheduled airline based at Kish Island, operating domestic routes across Iran and selective international services. It competes with Zagros on routes connecting Kish and Tehran and on regional international pilgrimage/leisure demand.
• Meraj Airlines: Meraj Airlines is an Iranian scheduled passenger carrier serving domestic routes with a small fleet, positioned in the same mid-tier private carrier segment as Zagros. It competes on overlapping domestic trunk routes within Iran.
• Iran Air Tours: Iran Air Tours is a private Iranian scheduled passenger airline serving domestic destinations and limited regional international routes, with a similar target customer base (leisure and pilgrimage travelers). It competes with Zagros on overlapping domestic trunk and leisure routes such as Tehran-Mashhad and Tehran-Kish.
• Qeshm Air: Qeshm Air is a private Iranian scheduled passenger carrier operating domestic routes and select international services, often serving southern Iranian destinations and Gulf/Middle East connections. It overlaps with Zagros on domestic routes from Tehran and on southern tourism/leisure demand.
• Iran Aseman Airlines: Iran Aseman Airlines is a major Iranian scheduled carrier focused on domestic and a handful of regional international routes, operating a fleet comparable in size and route breadth to Zagros. It is one of the closest direct competitors in the domestic Iranian scheduled passenger segment.
• Caspian Airlines: Caspian Airlines is an Iranian scheduled passenger airline operating domestic routes with a small MD/Boeing fleet. It competes with Zagros on routes serving northern Iran and on domestic trunk routes such as Tehran-Mashhad.
• Mahan Air: Mahan Air is Iran's largest private airline, operating scheduled domestic and international passenger services with a similarly broad route map across the Middle East, Central Asia, and South Asia. It competes head-to-head with Zagros on domestic trunk routes and on regional international corridors like Najaf.
• ATA Airlines (Iran): ATA Airlines is an Iranian private carrier operating scheduled domestic passenger services with a comparable fleet size and route map, serving similar Iranian leisure and business travelers. It directly competes with Zagros on domestic point-to-point routes.

Regional players

• Taban Air: Taban Air is a private Iranian airline with a smaller fleet focused on domestic and limited international routes. It is comparable to Zagros in operating model and customer base, though smaller in scale, making it a relevant but secondary reference point.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ZagrosAirlines
• Instagraminstagram.com/zagrosairlines.official
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/zagros-airlines

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Zagros Airlines