BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb. 3
By Elnur Baghishov – Trend:
A total of 8 passenger planes have been imported to Iran from Western countries since the beginning of the current Iranian year (March 20, 2020) to date, Deputy Minister of Roads and Urban Development of Iran and the CEO of Iran Civil Aviation Organization Touraj Dehghani Zanganeh told Tasnim news agency, Trend reports.
The CEO stressed these imported planes are manufactured in 2004 and 2005. These planes have not been used for flights yet.
He added that 16 more passenger planes are estimated to be imported. The timing of the import of these planes has not been determined, but it is projected to be imported by the end of this year.
Dehghani Zanganeh noted that these planes were imported by the private sector, and Iranian Airlines are also bought the planes.
The deputy minister said that currently, there are 162 passenger planes under the auspices of airlines in Iran. The US sanctions against Iran have made it more difficult to import planes to Iran.
“Iran has suspended its contracts with Airbus and ATR companies. Recently, a written request was made to the company in connection with the determination of the contract with Boeing Company,” he said.
Iran imported 13 passenger planes from ATR Company and 3 planes from Airbus Company under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2016. However, with the withdrawal of the US from the agreement in 2018, the import of planes to Iran was suspended.
The US imposed new sanctions on Iran in November 2018. Over the past period, the sanctions affected Iranian oil exports, more than 700 banks, companies, and individuals.
