Iran has added 1,330 seats to its air transport fleet during the past 21 days through replacing outdated Tupolev planes with a number of Boeings and Airbuses, the deputy roads and transportation minister said here on Sunday.
The Islamic Republic of Iran News Network quoted Reza Nakhjavani as saying that since the beginning of the current Iranian calendar year (March 21, 2010) 2,002 seats have been added to Iran's air transport fleet.
Last week, the Roads and Transportation Minister Hamid Behbahani, urged domestic airlines to replace worn-out Tupolev planes with modern ones.
"Last year I said the replacement should be done by March 2011," the minister noted.
"I have set a five-month deadline to Iran Airtour as the carrier which holds the highest number of Tupolev," he added.