Sanctions hitting hard Iran’s aviation industry

(MNA) – The head of Iran Air has said sanctions have grounded the company’s old fleet of airplanes.

Farhad Parvaresh told Mehr News that despite lifting of sanctions on Iran’s aviation industry Britain’s Rolls-Royce had not agreed to send Iran the plane parts, a fact that had grounded many of Iran Air’s old Fokker planes. “8 planes out of a fleet of 27 planes are always on their maintenance and repair half-life; and 10 others suffer grounding due to lack of engine and fuselage parts,” he added, hoping that the recent month attempts of the company would operate some of these planes.

Parvaresh added that the majority of grounded planes were Dutch company Fokker with engines mounted on by British Rolls Royce, which he criticized as denying service in delivering parts to Iran Air despite lifting of sanctions.

“Other Iranian airliners face the same problem of plane parts; it is an expensive process; if negotiations come to any definite result, it would benefit first Iranian airliners,” Parvaresh asserted, “no positive response has yet been received from Rolls Royce despite requests made by Iran Air, thus turning hopes for British company on repairing plane engines to dust.”

He added that the aviation industry would look forward to nuclear negotiations for overtures in the industry’s access to plane parts and services.