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December 12, 2016

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Home » Business » Transport

Iran Air seals US$16.6b deal for 80 aircraft

Source: AFP | December 12, 2016, Monday | Print Edition

IRAN Air finalized a contract to buy 80 planes from Boeing, the US aerospace firm confirmed yesterday, as it seeks to renew its ageing fleet despite sanctions.

Boeing said the contract — Iran’s first deal with a US aviation firm since the 1979 Islamic revolution — was worth US$16.6 billion.

“Fifty of the planes are 737 and the other 30 are the long haul 777 that will be delivered to Iran Air over a period of 10 years,” said Farhad Parvaresh, chief executive of the national carrier, who signed the contract with Boeing officials in Tehran.

With the incoming administration of US president-elect Donald Trump expected to take a tough line on Iran and American lawmakers recently voting for renewed sanctions, Boeing emphasized the employment opportunities of the deal.

“Today’s agreement will support tens of thousands of US jobs directly associated with production and delivery of the 777-300ERs and nearly 100,000 US jobs in the US aerospace value stream for the full course of deliveries,” the company said in a statement.

Many US lawmakers have opposed the deal, accusing Iran Air of helping to transport troops and weapons to conflict zones around the region.

The lack of new planes and parts has taken a severe toll on Iran’s carriers over the years, earning it one of the worst safety records in the world with close to 1,700 people dying in a string of civilian and military air disasters since 1979, according to the Flight Safety Foundation.

“With the signing of this contract, the first important step has been taken for the modernization of the country’s aviation fleet,” Transport Minister Abbas Akhoundi was quoted as saying.

The first Boeings are due to arrive in 2018 and Iran Air is also due to finalize the purchase of 100 planes from European firm Airbus.

“Our goal is to increase our ability to compete in the aviation industry to be able to get back our share in the transport industry in the region and the world,” said Akhoundi, referring to the fact that Iran was a regional hub for air transport before the revolution.

Following initial agreements earlier in the year, the Boeing and Airbus deals were given final approval by the US government in September.

Washington lifted some of its sanctions on Iran under a nuclear deal that came into force in January, but many restrictions have remained in place that mean companies trading with Tehran must receive explicit approval from the US Treasury.

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