Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov. 2
By Khalid Kazimov – Trend:
At least five brand new civil aircraft are expected to join Iran’s aviation fleet by March 2017, a transportation official said.
Asghar Fakhrieh Kashan, an Iranian deputy transport minister, said the country’s aviation system plans to receive from five to nine new planes by the end of the current Iranian calendar year (starting March 20), Tasnim news agency reported Nov. 2.
He added that there are some obstacles that need to be removed before acquiring the aircraft.
Earlier in September, the US issued a permission allowing Airbus to sell 17 airplanes to Iran following the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
After 21 years of embargo on Iran’s aviation, on January 28, Tehran signed a historic deal with Airbus for the purchase of 118 airliners (73 wide-bodies, 45 single aisle), including 12 A380 Superjumbos worth $25 billion at list price.
Iranian officials later announced that the country would receive eight Airbus planes this year and the rest would be delivered until 2024.
However Airbus, so far, has not managed to accomplish the deal, as it was restricted by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the US in doing business with Iran.
Iran plans to buy about 500 aircraft in 10 years to refurbish its ageing fleet. Iranian airliners average 25 in age.