Iran, Luxembourg eye broader cooperation in air transport

/By AzerNews/

By Sara Rajabova

Iran’s cooperation with European countries is on rise following the expectation for removal of international sanctions on the country in the near future.

The Islamic Republic is interested in restoring ties that ceased after imposition of sanctions on the country over its nuclear program.

One of the promising areas for cooperation between Iran and the European countries is the aviation sector.

Director of Luxembourg foreign ministry's international economic relations in a meeting with Head of the Iranian Civil Aviation Organization Ali Abedzadeh reviewed different ways for the expansion of aviation cooperation between the two countries.

During the meeting in Tehran on December 1, the two sides agreed to sign an air transport contract and an aviation memorandum of understanding, IRNA news agency reported.

The Iranian and Luxembourg officials also agreed to exchange the proposed text for preliminary investigations.

Luxembourg is active in the field of aviation, specially air transport in Euro zone and the flights of the Cargo Lux company plays an important role in air transportation.

Earlier, several European airliners voiced intention to offer new flights to Iran amid a growing demand as a result of the business and tourist boom in that country. The companies are receiving clear signals of a revival in economic relations between Europe and Iran from the business community and political decision-makers.

Meanwhile, Iran continues to take measures to renovate its aging aviation fleet with adding new aircrafts to the fleet.

Iranian airlines have reportedly bought 13 narrow-body Boeing 737 aircraft in their latest move to rebuild the country’s commercial fleet.

The Iranian aviation industry is under international sanctions. West's sanctions have barred Iran from buying western aircraft since the 1970s.

Moreover, the U.S. Treasury has barred Iranian airlines, including Iran Air, from landing or operating in the U.S. Furthermore, extraterritorial U.S. sanctions prevent European airports from providing Iranian carriers with fuel or accepting their money.

Years of U.S.-led sanctions have left many aircraft in Iran’s aviation inventory accumulating dust in absence of spare parts. Iran has kept its active aircraft in service through parts imported, cannibalized from other planes or reproduced locally.

However, under an interim nuclear deal in 2013, the West eased the ban on sales of spare parts but selling planes is still prohibited.

A nuclear accord reached with Tehran in July has provided Iran with a chance to renew its fleet of commercial aircraft. Iran earlier added nine new planes less than 10 years old to its air fleet.

Iranian officials earlier said Iran would need to buy 550 commercial aircraft of various models at a cost of $60 billion.