Iranian airline to acquire new jets

27 June 2017

Airbus and Boeing have signed with two clients each since lifting of sanctions

Privately owned Iran Airtours Airlines and French plane manufacturer Airbus have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for 45 A320neo aircraft.

The new fleet is expected to contribute to Iran Airtours’ growth and expansion plans, Airbus said in a statement.

This is the second deal for Airbus with an Iranian airline since the international nuclear-related sanctions on the country were lifted.

State-owned carrier Iran Air placed an order last year for more than 100 jets with Airbus. Three of these planes have been delivered as of March.

Established as a subsidiary of Iran Air in 1973, Iran Airtours was privatised in 2011.

Its eight active fleet carried an estimated 1.1 million passengers to 73 domestic and international destinations in 2014.

The deal has to be approved by several regulatory bodies including the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the US Department of Treasury.

US approval is required for any Airbus foreign sale since their planes utilise spare parts that are manufactured in the US.

In June last year, US-based Boeing and Iran Air signed an agreement for the supply of up to 80 planes, a deal which is estimated to cost at least $11bn depending on the agreed aircraft models.

This was followed by a second deal earlier this month, with Iran’s Aseman Airlines, for the purchase of 30 Boeing 737 planes.

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