Two of Iran’s domestic mid-size air carriers have signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) concerning a total of 73 new aircraft, Airbus today announced. Iran Airtour and Zagros Airlines’ commitments were disclosed at the Paris Airshow where the world’s major aircraft manufacturers have announced new orders and commitments during the past days.

Zagros Airlines, one of Iran’s prominent domestic airlines with a steadily growing fleet, signed a MoU with Airbus for the acquisition of 28 new aircraft, covering 20 A320neo and 8 A330neo. The commitment was signed today between the Iranian airlines’ CEO Seyed Abdolreza Mousavi and Airbus’ COO and President Commercial Aircraft Fabrice Brégier. Nearly half of the airline’s current 18-aircraft fleet consists of Airbus aircraft; 7 A320, 2 A321 and 1 A319. The rest of the fleet is composed of 5 MD82 and 3 MD83 aircraft. The A330neo would become the airline’s very first addition of a widebody aircraft, most likely indicating an international expansion. While Zagros Airlines currently operates a number of international flights a day to countries such as Turkey, Georgia and Georgia, the majority of the airline’s capacity is spread out on domestic routes.

We are delighted to have been able to reach an agreement with Airbus for these new aircraft. We have been a loyal operator of the A320 Family and the performance, operational and cost efficiencies of Airbus aircraft was the selling point for us to order these aircraft, said Seyed Abdolreza Mousavi. This represents a practical step for Zagros Airlines’ fleet renewal as well as expanding our operations both domestically and internationally.

Zagros Airlines’ agreement with Airbus is yet in the stage of a commitment, expressed in a MoU and is subject to approval from U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). An eventual deal will act in full compliance with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and associated rules, Airbus says. The same conditions have applied to IranAir’s deal signed in January 2016 and will also do to Iran Airtour Airlines’ commitment signed today.

We thank Zagros Airlines for their trust in our most efficient single and twin-aisle product families. They will allow Zagros to modernise and expand its fleet with minimum change benefiting from our fleet commonality which is unique to Airbus, said Fabrice Brégier.

Moreover, Iran Airtour Airlines signed a MoU for 45 A320neo aircraft, a great expansion which will once again welcome Airbus to the fleet that today consists of 8 aircraft; 1 B737-300, 1 B737-500, 4 MD82 and 2 MD83.

The A320neo Family with its unique features enabling operational efficiency and reliability will contribute to our growth and expansion strategy, said Majid Shekari, Chairman of Iran Airtour Airlines. Our success as a domestic and regional airline will be reinforced by this investment in the world’s leading single-aisle aircraft.

Iran Airtour Airlines almost exclusively operates domestic flights, with the exception of Turkey, UAE and charter flights. On the airline’s website, it is announced that the agreement’s commitment is valued at €4,5 billion. In February 2017, Iran Airtour Airlines joined IATA.

This commitment for 45 A320neo Family aircraft demonstrates the confidence airlines have in our successful market leading single-aisle for its operational efficiency and unrivaled passenger comfort, said Fabrice Brégier, Airbus COO and President Commercial Aircraft. We are delighted to add Iran Airtour as a new Airbus customer and we look forward to our long-term partnership.

A few weeks ago, Iran Aseman Airlines announced that it had finalised the MoU signed in April 2017 However, the ‘deal’ is still in subject to a final OFAC approval. Boeing has yet not officially commented the case.

Photo: Airbus Group