Baku, Azerbaijan, June 19
By Fatih Karimov – Trend:
Seven Iranian airlines have held talks with Boeing over aircraft and aircraft parts purchase, Maghsoud Asadi Samani, secretary of Iran's Airlines Association, said.
The country’s flag carrier, Iran Air, has involved in direct talks with Boeing, meanwhile other airline companies also are pursuing talks which were held earlier, Asadi Samani said, Mehr news agency reported June 19.
He did not unveil the names of the Iranian companies which have conducted talks with the US aircraft manufacturer.
The parties continue their talks, aimed at reaching an agreement, he said, adding requests have been made for purchase of various types of aircrafts.
However, he said, Boeing 737 will enjoy the greatest demand as it is a proper plane for Iran.
Asadi Samani also underlined that the Iranian airlines lack the financial resources for buying new aircraft so foreign financers should be hired for financing the purchases.
Earlier today Ali Abedzadeh, head of Iran's Civil Aviation Organization said that Iran Air has reached an agreement with Boeing for purchase of 100 aircrafts.
Tehran and Boeing have reached a written agreement on the issue, Abedzadeh said, adding the deal will be finalized once the US Treasury issues the final permission for the deal.
Abedzadeh added that Boeing has submitted an official request to the US Treasury on final authorization for the aircraft sale.
The Islamic Republic has announced its need for about 400 passenger planes in the next decade to modernize its ageing fleet.
Iran signed a major deal worth $27 billion with Airbus in January to purchase 118 planes from the company. The deal with Airbus was sealed during a state visit to Paris by Iran's President Hassan Rouhani.