Private Iranian airline Mahan Air's newly purchased Airbus planes are flying on schedule, said general manager of the Imam Khomeini International Airport, Hamidreza Seyyedi.
Mahan Air, which is blacklisted under western sanctions for more than 3 years, acquired eight A340s and one A321 from sellers in Iraq, Syria and the United Arab Emirates in May as part of the airline's plan to expand its services.
The United States Treasury Department, which polices compliance with sanctions, said at the time not only that the purchases had violated American restrictions but also that the aircraft were “blockable”, meaning they could theoretically be prevented from leaving airports of American allies and other countries that have civil aviation agreements with Iran but that wish to avoid running afoul of the sanctions or antagonizing the United States government, The New York Times reported.
Saint Petersburg, Moscow as well as several cities in Greece and Turkey are said to be the destinations for Mahan Air's new jetliners.
