Tehran, Iran, Jan. 18
By Milad Fashtami - Trend:
Iran's oil ministry has requested the Iran Airports Company to take control over the ministry's 9 airports.
Director of Iran Airports Company Mohammad Ali Ilkhani said that the firm is studying the request, Iran's IRIB News Agency reported on Jan. 18.
"The airports are located in Mahshahr, Kharg, Lavan, Siri, Kangan, Behregan, Assaluyeh, Masjed Soleyman, and Gachsaran," he said.
"The mentioned airports don't have much income, so we should first reach an agreement over a source for paying the airports' expenses," he explained.
"The aviation industry in Iran is loss-making, so an increase in the number of our airports, means higher loss," Ilkhani explained.
Ilkhani said in June 2014 that Iran plans to construct two or three new airports with finance from foreign firms.
"A contract has been signed with French and Chinese companies for financing Mash'had city's new airport," he said.
He went on to note that some 4 trillion rials (some $125 million based on the exchange rate of USD at the free market) will be invested construction operations of 54 airports across the country.
"Half the mentioned amount will be invested by Iran Airports Company and the rest by the private sector," he explained.
"Oil reserves have been discovered in Ahwaz city's airport, so we plan to construct a new airport for the city," he added.
"Some renovation and development plans are also being carried out in Shiraz city's airport," he added.