The Salaam Terminal was inaugurated in June 2019. Credit: Imam Khomeini Airport City.
The Salaam Terminal will handle up to five million passengers. Credit: Imam Khomeini Airport City.
The Salaam Terminal architecture reflects Iranian and Islamic architecture. Credit: Imam Khomeini Airport City.

The Salaam terminal is Imam Khomeini International Airport’s (IKIA) second terminal and the first smart airport terminal in Iran.

Opened in June 2019, the new terminal is capable of handling an additional five million passengers.

IKIA is the third busiest airport in Iran and handled nine million passengers in 2017-18. It located 30km south of the capital city Tehran and is owned by Iran Civil Aviation Organisation. Operations at the airport are handled by Iranian Airports Holding Company.

The growing demand at the airport required the construction of the new Salaam terminal. The 40ha Salaam terminal was built by Iranian engineers by availing $16.6m credit. Featuring modern equipment, the Salaam terminal serves as a model for new terminals.

Details of the Imam Khomeini Airport City

In 2003, the national developmental programme of Iran drafted plans to develop the Imam Khomeini Airport city allocating an area of 14,000ha.

IKIA is part of the airport city, which also comprises free trade zones and specially zoned areas. According to the master plan, the free trade zone covers 1,500ha, while the special economic zone covers 2,500ha and 13,700ha of the area has been designated for IKIA.

Imam Khomeini Airport City development

IKIA operates services to 64 destinations in over 30 countries. Terminal one of the airport has been operational since 2007. It occupies an area of 100,000m² and operates seven fixed bridges for passengers.

The Salaam terminal is built along with a second runway as part of the first phase of the development plan of the airport. A third terminal named Iranshahr is currently being constructed in phases.

“Salaam terminal has all the provisions to provide services for commercial wide-body aircraft such as Airbus A380.”

The Iranshahr terminal is expected to add passenger capacity of 25 million during its first phase of development, which is expected to further increase to 90 million once construction has been completed.

IKIA transported the largest amount of cargo in March 2017-18, followed by Mehrabad Airport and Mashhad Airport.

It added Novotel and Ibis hotels near terminal one. Operated by AccorHotels, the hotels are connected to terminal one by a sky bridge.

Salaam terminal details

Salaam terminal’s design is based on a blend of Iranian cultural architecture and the latest technology, which also includes jet bridges. It covers an area of 56,000m² and is designed and constructed by Iranian engineers.

The terminal consists of three floors and features 52 service counters, six passenger boarding bridges and nine boarding gates. It also includes two dedicated counters for passengers with disabilities.

The apron of the terminal covers 1.05km², while the ground transportation centre covers 36,000m². The terminal also includes a car parking area of 203,000m².

Salaam terminal has all the provisions to provide services for commercial wide-body aircraft such as Airbus A380. It also operates Haj flights.

Contractors involved

Engineering and construction works of the Salaam terminal were carried out by Mostazafan Foundation. A consortium of Netherlands Airport Consultants (NACO) and 3T is the master consultant of the refurbishment project of IKIA and it is also the supporting partner for Salaam terminal and second runway construction.

ADI Consulting and NACO entered an agreement in 2015 for design, development and construction activities of Imam Khomeini Airport City.

Mitsubishi Electric Hydronics & IT Cooling Systems in 2017 provided eight hydronic system units for use at the Salaam terminal. Venus Glass, an automotive and architectural glass manufacturer, provided V-Cool, V-Lam and V-Tem architectural glass for the terminal building.

Aliajgaran, a control and building management system equipment supplier, provided air handling units (AHU), pumps, chillers, boilers and burners, two generators, and fire alarm and lighting system for the Salaam terminal.