Iran Air - Fleet

Fleet

Iran Air operates the following aircraft (as of November 2012):

Iran Air's average fleet age is 24.2 years (as of 26 August 2012).

Aircraft acquired by Iran Air must have less than 10% of US-manufactured components on board and it must not have belonged to a US airline since its registration. As most Airbus aircraft are powered by General Electric, CFM, Pratt and Whitney or Rolls-Royce engines, Iran Air has not been able to acquire many of their aircraft. Current American sanctions do not prevent Iran Air from leasing American or European aircraft but Iran Air prefers purchasing in order to be able to perform all maintenance and remain up to date with technological advances. Since purchasing from American or European manufacturers directly is prohibited under US and EU sanctions, Iran Air turns to third parties airlines as well as Russian manufacturers.

On 20 December 2006, Iran Air put back into operation one of its Boeing 747-SP aircraft that had been out of operation for many years, after putting it through a major overhaul by the Fajr Aviation & Composites Industry. In June 2007, Iran Air managed to lease one A340-200 aircraft from Conviasa Airlines of Venezuela. This marked the first time a leasing operation was completed by an all-Iranian team lead by an Iranian Captain to set up the A340 fleet for two months.

On 14 August 2007, it was reported that Iran Air had overcome sanctions imposed by the west and that their fleet of A310s are ready to resume service. On 21 May 2008, it was reported that Iran Air may become subject to a new EU sanction, banning all its flights from landing in EU airports. According to Iran Air's managing director Saeed Hesami, EU is citing Iran Air's technical and safety shortcomings as the reason for the imminent ban.