French company eyeing investments in Iran’s aviation

/By AzerNews/

By Sara Rajabova

Foreign companies specialized in aviation industry has voiced intention to participate in projects to renovate Iran’s aviation fleet.

Iran said a leading French company specializing in airport architecture and engineering voiced interest in the development of three key airport projects in the country.

Mohammad Khodakarami, the caretaker director of Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization, has told the Iranian media that ADPI Group is already engaged in talks with Iranian officials over the expansion of Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport, as well as the development of Mashhad and Shiraz airports, Press TV reported.

Khodakarami said a delegation from ADPI will soon arrive in Tehran to discuss the technicalities of the company’s planned investments in Iran.

Last October, the media reported that Iran plans a $2.8 billion expansion of IKIA and that France’s Bouygues SA and ADPI are among companies to express interest.

The official further added that Iran has already presented the investment potentials of the three airport projects to the experts of the company who were in the country last week.

He said ADPI is accordingly expected to study the three projects and submit its proposals to the related aviation authorities.

IKIA, which locates in about 40 kilometers southwest of Tehran, has a capacity for six million air travelers a year. Iranian officials say a plan to expand the airport envisages the construction of a new terminal with the capacity to handle 20 million passengers in a year.

This is seen as part of wider plans by Iran to position itself as the leading hub for cargo transportation and the second in passenger transportation in the Middle East.

Khodakarami earlier said Iran plans to open new flights to various European cities over the next few months.

Currently, the planes of 32 foreign airlines make regular and irregular flights to Iran. "Aeroflot" (Russia), Air Arabia (UAE), Alitalia (Italy), Atlas Jet (Turkey), AZAL (Azerbaijan), Aegean (Greece), Gulf Air (Bahrain), Lufthansa (Germany), Saudi Arabian airlines and "International Airlines of Ukraine" are among these companies, according to Iranian media.

Airplanes of foreign airlines have flights from 32 cities around the world to Tehran, Shiraz, Abadan, Isfahan, Mashhad, Urmia, Rasht, Tabriz, Ahvaz, Bandar Abbas and Kermanshah.

The Islamic republic also plans to buy as many as 90 planes per year from Boeing and Airbus to revamp its antiquated fleet once Western sanctions are lifted.

Iranian officials earlier said the county will need 400-500 civilian aircraft worth at least $20 billion in the next decade to renovate its aging fleet which has suffered under years of U.S. and European sanctions.

Earlier this year, Iran added 9 new planes less than 10 years old to its air fleet.

The U.S.-led sanctions on aircraft and spare parts exports to Iran have left Iranian airlines saddled with not only some of the oldest fleets in the Middle East, but also in the world.

Iran's four largest carriers – Iran Air, Aseman Airlines, Mahan Air and Iran Air Tours – all have average fleet ages above 22 years, according to Iranian media outlets.