Long Way to Go for Air Fleet Renewal

EghtesadOnline: The average age of regional airplanes is around five years, while that of Iran stands at 23, the head of Iranian Aviation & Space Industries Association said.

News ID: ۷۸۰۶۸۶

29 November 2017

Speaking at the Eighth International Aviation and Space Industries Exhibition of Iran, Masoud Qasemi also told IRNA that Iran’s 20-Year Vision Plan has set the target for Iran ranking first in cargo transport and second in passenger transport in the region but this is not possible with 150-160 airplanes.

In recent years, Iran has taken major steps for renewing its air fleet battered by years of sanctions.

Iranian airlines have ordered a total of 323 (with the option of adding 50 more) new jets worth tens of billions of dollars from the world’s giant aircraft makers, including Airbus, Boeing and ATR, according to Financial Tribune.

So far, Iran’s flag carrier, Iran Air, has received nine airplanes (one Airbus A321, two Airbus A330 and six ATR 72-600).

The first Boeing delivery is scheduled for April 2018.

Chief Executive of ATR Christian Scherer recently said the Franco-Italian planemaker expects the number of its twin-engine turboprop airliners delivered to Iran to reach eight by the end of the year. The other 12 ordered aircraft will be delivered in 2018.

The expo held at Aviations Exhibitions Center—located on the outskirts of Tehran—opened on Tuesday and will run until Dec. 1.