Noting that a number of foreign aircraft manufacturing companies have visited Iran over the past one year in a bid to assess the capacities in aviation industry, deputy minister of roads and urban development and the head of Iran Civil Aviation Organization CAO, Ali-Reza Jahangirian, said the foreign countries are eagerly awaiting the removal of current trade restrictions before entering into business interaction with the competitive industry.
According to the official, representatives from the foreign companies repeatedly visited Iran over the past year and held discussions with the CAO and Iranian airlines to assess the capacities in air transport, IRNA reported, citing the ministry of roads and urban development's website.
Noting that many of Iranian aircrafts were grounded in recent years due to lack of access to parts and international services, Jahangirian said the country currently has about 140 operating commercial airplanes, while it has been estimated that by the year 2025, between 400-500 airplanes will be required.
He further noted that CAO's revenues during the 11 months of the past Iranian calendar year (ended March 20) grew about 60% compared with the similar period of the preceding year, anticipating similar rate of growth in the current year.
According to the official, an average of 900 airplanes fly over the country's airspace per day, but the CAO, despite being responsible for many activities pertaining to the freedom of the air, has so far had no share in the revenues.
Jahangirian also said that some flight routes, which were previously closed for various reasons, reopened during the past Iranian year, adding that discussions are underway for launching a new flight route between Iran and Portugal. He added that new flight routes have been opened by Iranian airlines between Colombo, Sri Lanka and Brunei in the current year.
