The government is giving Iranian airlines four months to get rid of their out-of-service planes, as airports grapple with a shortage of parking space. “The airlines will face heavy fines for each day of delay,” IRNA quoted Rahmatollah Mahabadi, CEO of Iran Airports Company, affiliated to the Ministry of Roads and Urban Development, as saying. Earlier, director general of Mehrabad International Airport, Ali Rostami, said 40 out-of-service planes are parked in this airport alone, which must be discarded as per a decree issued by Roads and Urban Development Minister Abbas Akhoundi. Mehrabad, which has space for 40-42 planes, currently accommodates up to 47 aircraft. “Mehrabad needs parking space for 75 planes within the next five years in view of the growing demand,” Rostami said. Some have proposed the idea of converting the defunct planes into restaurants.
