Despite being one of the most severely sanctioned nations on the planet, Iran is able to keep a fleet of primarily Western-built aircraft in operation. “Iran’s fleet is a vintage collection of jets held together with smuggled parts,” Reuters previously said.
Although both North Korea and Cuba are subject to severe sanctions, they still fly vintage Soviet and Russian commercial aircraft; also, their commercial aviation sectors are small and their nations are small. Iran, the largest country in the world, needs a domestic airline industry because it is significantly larger than Russia.
Iran’s commercial airline fleet
Iran has vintage jetliners in service, notably the last original functioning Boeing 747-100 in the world, just as the streets of Cuba’s Havanna are known for their vintage cars (as Cuba is unable to buy new cars).
In addition to numerous other sanctions already in place against the nation, Ch-aviation stated in October 2024 that Western nations had sanctioned Iran Air, Mahan Air, and Saha Airlines for providing weaponry to Russia.
Iran has many airlines (approximately 23 in 2019), but few planes. In 2019, the Washington Institute reported that Iran had 156 operating aircraft out of a total of approximately 300.
In 2022, Radio Free Europe projected that the country had roughly 130 operating aircraft out of 340, while in May 2024, Iran Focus claimed that it had around 150 operational jets out of 350.
“The secretary of the Association of Iranian Airlines announced earlier this year that the price of plane tickets for domestic flights within Iran had increased by 30% amid rising operational costs and stagnant revenues. 21 airlines currently operate in the country, but according to the head of Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization, only a total of 171 Iranian airplanes remain functional—serving a population of 85 million.” – Gulf International Forum
| Iran Air fleet (per Planespotters.net) | |
|---|---|
| Average age: | 19.1 years |
| Total fleet: | 31 |
| Operational aircraft: | 21 (excluding parked aircraft) |
| Aircraft types: | ATR 42/72, A300, A310, A319, A320, A330, Boeing 747, Fokker 70/100 |
| Operational fleet: | Average 17 aircraft (per Iran Air website) |
While Iran’s commercial aviation industry exists, it is not in good health. In a letter from December 2022, AA stated: “Due to difficulties in procuring spare parts and even purchasing new planes, premier Iranian carriers, including Iran Air, Mahan Airlines and Kish Air, have stopped many of their overseas operations in recent years.”
Operating these jets is more costly (and risky) than operating modern aircraft. However, because the government substantially subsidizes the business, this does not always result in higher costs for customers.
For example, in November 2024, Iran International reported that Iran was boosting the price of aviation fuel from less than a nickel to roughly $0.10 per liter. Aviation fuel prices vary around the world, but in the United States, they are typically around $6 per gallon or $2 per liter.
Older jets can be easier to maintain on the black market
Perhaps one of Iran’s advantages is that its jets are ancient. As obsolete airframes are decommissioned and cannibalized around the world, spare components become available on the black market, making them easier to repair.
| Mahan Air fleet (per Planespotters.net) | |
|---|---|
| Average Age: | 27.7 years |
| Total fleet: | 32 |
| Operational aircraft: | 23 (excluding 9 parked) |
| Aircraft types: | A330, A340, Boeing 747, BAe 146/Avro RJ, Embraer ERJ-145, Fokker 50/60 |
Meanwhile, sanctioned Russia is experiencing the opposite difficulty with its new Airbus A321neos/A320neos. These are equipped with the modern and complicated CFM International LEAP engine, which is difficult to service (almost half of its fleet is now grounded).
Additionally, it is very difficult for Russia to source parts for its new A350 or similar aircraft; these are new, only exist in small numbers, and parts are generally not available on the black market.
Iran’s canceled order for over 100 Airbus jets
After the restrictions were temporarily relaxed in 2015, Iran immediately bought 118 Airbus planes for $25 billion. The following year, Airbus announced, “Iran Air has taken delivery of its first new aircraft, an A321…the delivery is the first from a firm order placed by Iran Air in December 2016 for 100 Airbus aircraft (46 single aisle and 54 wide-body jets) to renew and expand its fleet.
” Iran also bought 80 Boeing airplanes (list price: $17 billion). In addition, Aseman Airlines agreed to purchase 30 Boeing jets (worth $3 billion), as well as 20 new turboprop ATR aircraft.
Only a few new planes were delivered before the Trump administration unilaterally reimposed the restrictions. Despite the fact that European governments rejected the penalties, Airbus had little choice. Only a few of these jets were delivered before Airbus suspended further deliveries (the jets were eventually removed from its backlog in January 2024).
When Iran was authorized to purchase new aircraft in 2016, Reuters said that “Iran moved swiftly to exchange a collection of vintage jets held together with smuggled parts for a new fleet capable of taking on rival Gulf carriers.”
Iran purchasing new aircraft
However, Iran is not absolutely unable to obtain new aircraft (supposedly it prefers to acquire decommissioned Airbus A340 planes). Mahan Air is reported to have nine A340s of various versions in service.
In a 2016 piece, Reuters said that Iran was using’state-of-the-art deception’ to circumvent UN sanctions. It was stated that in December 2012, aviation trader James Kim received a letter from a Cyprus-based corporation asking to acquire four jetliners. The corporation was registered in a Nicosia flat and had two directors with Iranian-sounding names.
The letter indicated that the company was “ready, willing, and able” to purchase four old Airbus A340 jets (for which Kim was looking for a buyer). Kim stated to Reuters: “I talked to them and when I got the Letter of Intent with an Iranian name, I informed them that a deal was not possible because of sanctions.” That shelf company eventually vanished from the radar.
According to Reuters: “The methods used to evade sanctions mirror those used in other countries that are or have been under international sanctions in recent decades, such as South Africa, Cuba, Zimbabwe, Iraq and North Korea.”
The Turkish news agency AA claimed in December 2022 that Iran had purchased four outdated wide-bodied A340s. These appear to have taken off from South Africa’s Johannesburg International Airport heading for Uzbekistan (but landed in Tehran, Iran).
It said: “Aviation observers believe the four Airbus 340s could have been imported through clandestine transactions by local Iranian airline companies to circumvent the sanctions.
” It is uncertain whether Iran’s four A340s successfully acquired in 2022 are the same four it failed to get in 2016 (according to Aviacion Line, they are ex-Turkish Airlines A340s acquired with the assistance of Burkina Faso).
Aviación Line also indicated that Iran was able to obtain two further Airbus A340-200s in May 2023. These came from Indonesia with authorization from Indonesian officials; they were initially part of the French Air Force but were later acquired by the French business LMO Aero.
The jets were eventually purchased, purportedly by a Mali firm (which turned out to be a front for Mahan Air). Mahdi Maghfouri, a senior manager of Mahan Air, personally flew one of the jets to Iran.
Iran’s aid to Venezuela
Venezuela is also extensively sanctioned, and it struggles to maintain a domestic commercial aviation sector. Iran has identified spare aircraft to lend to Venezuela (whose civil aviation condition may be worse than Iran’s).
In 2007, Iran’s Mahan Air bought a 1986 Boeing 747-300M (registration YV3531) and leased it to Emtrasur Cargo (a cargo division of Venezuelan flag carrier Conviasa). However, at the request of the United States, it was confiscated by Argentina in June 2022 and transported to the United States in February 2024, where it was dismantled.
In addition, Iran’s Mahan Air has leased Conviasa two more Airbus A340-200s and three Airbus A340-600s. It is uncertain whether they are the identical A340s mentioned earlier. According to Planespotters.
net, one of the A340-600s was formerly owned by Virgin Atlantic and was later sold to Iraq’s Al-Naser Airlines before being acquired by Mahan Air. Simple Flying covered Conviasa’s first Airbus A340-600 (registered YV3533) at the time.
A modest fleet operating on smuggled parts
FAQ
Why do international sanctions not fully affect Iran’s airline fleet?
Iran has adapted to sanctions by utilizing innovative measures, including acquiring aircraft through indirect channels, maintaining older fleets with locally manufactured parts, and leveraging friendly nations for assistance.
How does Iran procure aircraft despite sanctions?
Iran often acquires aircraft through intermediaries, third-party brokers, or gray markets. These channels allow airlines to bypass restrictions and maintain operational fleets.
What role does domestic manufacturing play in maintaining Iran’s airline fleet?
Domestic manufacturing of spare parts and reverse engineering has become a critical strategy for Iran to keep its older aircraft operational despite the sanctions.
Are there any safety concerns with Iran’s aging fleet?
Yes, the reliance on older aircraft and the challenges of sourcing genuine spare parts have raised safety concerns about the reliability and maintenance of Iran’s airline fleet.
Which countries support Iran’s aviation sector under sanctions?
Countries with favorable diplomatic relations with Iran, such as Russia and China, often provide technical and material support to Iran’s aviation industry.
How does the black market impact Iran’s aviation capabilities?
The black market plays a significant role in sourcing parts and equipment that are otherwise unavailable due to sanctions. While effective in maintaining operations, this practice comes with risks, including quality and legal issues.
