Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr. 17
By Fatih Karimov - Trend:
Iran and the US giant plane manufacturer, Boeing discussed the future cooperation plans, Head of Iran's Civil Aviation Organization (CAO) Ali Abedzadeh said April 17.
In the recent talks with Boeing representatives in Tehran, the issue of providing service for Iran's operating aircrafts, which were manufactured by the company, was discussed, Abedzadeh said, Mehr news agency reported.
Boeing is interested to sell airplanes to Iran, however providing services for the existing Boeing aircrafts in the country were discussed in the first step, Abedzadeh said.
He further said that certain talks were held between Iranian aviation companies and Boeing, though the details have not been revealed yet.
He also underlined that Boeing aircrafts enjoy good quality and have been approved by the CAO.
The CAO is also eager to purchase Boeing airplanes, Abedzadeh said.
Boeing airplanes form 32 percent of Iran's air fleet, as there are currently about 60 Boeing aircraft in the Islamic Republic.
The Chicago-based airliner manufacturer has announced that it will discuss fleet-planning options with Iranian officials.
If Boeing manages to reach an agreement with Iran on aviation, it will be the second major international manufacturer inking a deal with Iran since mid-January when international sanctions on Iran were lifted.
Over the past decades and after the removal of crippling nuclear-related sanctions on Iran, Airbuss was the first airplane manufacturer to seal a major aviation deal with Iran.
On January 28, Tehran signed a historic deal with Airbus for the purchase of 118 airliners (73 widebodies, 45 single aisle) including 12 A380 superjumbos.
Under the memorandum of understanding (MoU), the European aircraft manufacturer will train Iranian pilots as well as technicians to maintain the planes.