Page 48 - IRANRptSep18

9.2.3 Transport corporate news
British Airways, Air France and Dutch KLM pulling out of Iran
Tabriz-based private carrier ATA Airlines has announced that its latest international route to Russia will comprise of twice-weekly flights to Kazan, the capital of the Republic of Tatarstan in the Russian Federation, Aviation Iran reported.
Russia and Iran are witnessing a gradual growth in air connections, despite a dip in outbound Iranian travel in recent months due to the Islamic Republic’s ongoing currency crisis amid the reimposition of US sanctions.
The Sunday and Thursday direct flights to the capital of semi-autonomous Tatarstan follow a push by the republic’s President Rustam Minnikhanov to form closer relations with Tehran.
During a meeting in December last year involving Minnikhanov, the Iranian consul in Kazan and travel agency Iran Markaz, the development of bilateral relations in the field of tourism was discussed.
The president proposed direct flights from Kazan to Tehran and the Kish holiday resort island in the Persian Gulf.
The independent ATA Airlines earlier announced it will be expanding its fleet, primarily with the acquisition of used jets on the international market.
ATA has experienced success in flying from secondary Iranian cities to destinations in two countries neighbouring Iran, Azerbaijan and Turkey. It is the second young Iranian airline to connect with Russia.
Iranian and regional airlines presently stand a chance of mopping up several routes given the d ecision of European airlines including British Airways, Air France and KLM to exit the Iranian market with the threat of secondary US sanctions on the horizon. However, many Iranian carriers are still struggling with rundown fleets. Plans to buy new aircraft and components have been wrecked by Washington’s renewed economic attack on Iran. IranAir’s efforts to modernise its fleet by acquiring aircraft from manufacturers including Airbus, ATR and Boeing have also been largely frustrated by the sanctions. In early August, IranAir did manage to obtain five new ATR turboprop jets the day before the first of the reimposed sanctions snapped back into place.
US Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell has asked Berlin to ban Iran’s Mahan Air from flying over the country and landing at its airports, Alex Macheras, a leading aviation expert, said on August 29.
The move against Iran’s second-biggest airline, backed by US and Israeli officials, comes as Washington seeks to turn the screw on Iran with its growing reimposition of economic sanctions.
In a meeting with a senior delegation from the American Israel Affairs Committee, Grenell said: “Here in Germany, I have asked the German government to support our efforts to stop an airline called Mahan Air from utilising German airspace and airports. We know that Mahan Air has been used by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps [IRGC] as a mode of transport for weapons, resources and fighters, so we’re asking our allies to help us put a stop to it.” Mahan air operates more 68 routes, with at least 28 of those to international destinations including Damascus and Germany.
Most foreign airlines no longer cater for the Syrian market due to the longstanding conflict in that country, Mahan Air is the only international carrier currently operating regular flights to the Syrian capital.
48 IRAN Country Report September 2018 www.intellinews.com