Tehran, Iran, Aug. 1
By Mehdi Sepahvand - Trend:
The Islamic Republic of Iran is planning to buy 90 passenger airplanes each year as part of efforts aimed at renovating its civil aviation fleet.
Iran is going to buy Airbus and Boeing airliners and the annual purchase of 80 to 90 airplanes is the first phase of the renovation program, Director of Iran's Civil Aviation Organization Mohammad Khodakarami said.
He added Iran is aiming at buying a total of 300 passenger airplanes in five years, Tasnim news agency reported August 1.
The plan follows decades of decline in the Iranian aviation industry, which has been deprived of foreign goods and services under harsh international sanctions.
Iran's four largest carriers - Iran Air, Aseman Airlines, Mahan Air and Iran Air Tours - all have average fleet age above 22 years, according to the Iranian media outlets.
Under sanctions, Iran started domestically assembling a model of passenger aircraft called Iran-140, which was a disaster in terms of safety.
The first crash of Iran-140 occurred during a test flight in 2009.
The deadliest crash occurred in August 2014, shortly after the plane's takeoff from Tehran Mehrabad International Airport. 40 people were killed in the disaster.
Through a recent deal with world powers, Iran is expecting to be freed from the sanctions and renovate its aviation fleet.
Under the new deal, all restrictions related to the purchase, hire, transfer, as well as services and goods related to the engine and other airplane parts will be lifted, Khodakarami asserted.
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