Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 22
By Fatih Karimov - Trend: Iran will not use Russian Sukhoi to revamp its aviation fleet.
Iranian Roads and Urban Development Minister Abbas Akhoundi said no negotiations have been made with the Russian aircraft manufacturer, and all the talks have been made with Airbus and Boeing, the state-run Iran newspaper quoted Akhoundi as saying Sept. 21.
"We have reached preliminary agreements with top aircraft manufacturer to boost infrastructures and navigation systems," he added.
After the nuclear agreement with world power takes effect, the Iranian aviation industry will emerge from sanctions, he noted.
Iran has submitted its list of requirements for 2020 to Airbus and Boeing, Akhoundi said, adding that Tehran has been negotiating with other companies regarding short-range planes.
That was while Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Company President Ilya Tarasenko said on August 1 that the company may deliver Sukhoi SuperJet 100 aircraft to Iran if sanctions against the country are lifted.
"We are working closely with our Iranian partners and they are interested in purchasing our aircraft. They have very old aircraft and extensive network of regional airports. Moreover, Iran has a good geographical position in the region, which allows operating flights to United Arab Emirates," Tarasenko said.
Director of Iran's Civil Aviation Organization Mohammad Khodakarami said on August 30 that the country 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, he added.
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.
Edited by CN