Gerald Butt/NICOSIA
The Iranian parliament has allowed state-owned Iran Asseman Airlines to seek loans overseas of up to $400 million to finance the purchase of new aircraft.
The decision was taken by deputies who were evaluating expenditure proposals presented by the government for the national budget that comes into effect in March. The loans are to be repaid over a period of 7-10 years.
A government aviation official in Tehran says it is "still too early" to say what aircraft the airline hopes to buy, but adds: "Something from the Airbus range would be logical". Asseman operates two Airbus A310s, and as long as the US economic embargo on Iran remains in force, the purchase of Boeings is not an option. The airline, formed in 1980 following the merger of four private carriers in Iran, flies four ageing 727s, along with Fokker F28s and ATR 72s, on internal and external routes. Earlier this year the Iranian Government said that the main national carrier, Iran Air, needs to spend $7 billion on new and replacement aircraft.
Four Rolls-Royce Trent-powered A330s are on order - two for delivery this year and two next year. Iran Air is also negotiating the purchase of four A310-200s from Cyprus Airways and similar aircraft from THY Turkish Airlines.
Source: Flight International
