Iran’s Zagros Airlines has signed a conditional Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to order 20 A320neo and eight A330 airliners. Iran Airtour, a privatised division of state airline Iran Air, will order 45 A320neos. The announcements followed 18 months of negotiations. Both sales still require US government export approval for USdesigned and built on-board systems and components. Press reports from the Paris Air Show stated Iran Air is not acting to revive its cancelled order for 12 Airbus A380s, despite being offered an opportunity to be a launch customer for the A380plus. Boeing has also made progress on selling airliners to Iran. It has signed a final purchase agreement with Iran Aseman Airlines for as many as 60 737 MAXes. Deliveries would start in 2022. Boeing’s 2016 sale of 80 airliners to Iran Air is still awaiting US government approval. US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said on congressional testimony in May he is looking at increasing sanctions on Iran. This will include a review of export licences connected with airliner sales.
By David C Isby
Feature
