Summary
- Iran Air’s order for nearly 100 aircraft from Airbus has been faraway from the manufacturer’s order backlog.
- The initial order was made in 2016 after the easing of sanctions.
- Political tensions between Iran and the US only led to 3 planes being delivered.
Iran’s national carrier, Iran Air, is not any longer expecting nearly 100 aircraft from Airbus as they’ve reportedly been omitted from the manufacturer’s order backlog. The event is allegedly indicated within the European aircraft maker’s year-end figures.
The aircraft have been listed in Airbus’ order books for over five years. Nonetheless, the newest change reportedly pushed the variety of the corporate’s order cancelations to over 220.
What was once a major addition of planes
In keeping with FlightGlobal, Iran Air placed an order for the planes in 2016 following the easing of sanctions attributable to a political agreement over Iran’s nuclear energy program. The agreement, negotiated by the Obama administration, was the primary time US trade with Iran was unblocked for the reason that 1979 Islamic revolution when the US Embassy in Tehran was seized, in line with USA TODAY.
Photo: Airbus
The airline reportedly agreed to 98 aircraft: 16 A350-1000s, 28 A330-900s, eight A330-200s, 32 A320neos, eight A321s, and A320s. Two additional A330-200s originally intended for avianca were also assigned to the airline. When the aircraft were ordered, the A320s were reportedly valued at $98 million, and the A330-200s began at $231 million.
The firm contract initially planned for aircraft deliveries to start in 2017 and was a part of a major addition of planes, following Boeing selling 80 aircraft, in line with USA TODAY. In 2016, some lawmakers within the US reportedly argued that the deliveries may very well be blocked attributable to Iran’s status as a sponsor of terrorism.
Only three aircraft delivered
The orders reportedly needed approval from the US government attributable to the technology onboard the planes. Some officials contended that Iran could use the aircraft to move weapons and troops. Although Airbus is predicated outside of the US, the corporate still needed approval from the US Treasury Department to deliver aircraft to Iran because at the very least 10% of the materials used to develop its planes are American-made.
Out of the 100 jets, only two A330-200s and one A321 were delivered to the carrier attributable to political tensions between Iran and the US resurfacing in 2018. Since then, the remaining 97 planes have been included in Airbus’ order backlog – until the top of 2023.
Greater than 40% of order cancelations
Airbus shared its 2023 industrial aircraft orders and delivery figures on Thursday. In keeping with FlightGlobal, all 97 remaining aircraft assigned to Iran Air are not any longer included within the backlog of orders. It represents greater than 40% of order cancelations Airbus recorded last yr, which were 225. Notably, the adjustment is a blow to the A330neo family’s net order total because the variety of orders for the widebody jet decreased to only eight planes.
Photo: AIrbus
Iran Air is reportedly the oldest airline within the Middle East. Headquartered in Tehran, the carrier bases its operations at Imam Khomeini International Airport for international flights and Mehrabad International Airport for domestic flights. In keeping with the airline, it carries 6 million passengers per yr.
Last month, the carrier said that 28 million people passed through Iran airports for the reason that start of the calendar yr, which began on March 21, 2023. Iran Air also has a cargo subsidiary, Iran Air Cargo, that gives scheduled and charter flights.