Iran Talking to Six Countries to Buy Aircraft

Iran is in talks with six countries, including Brazil, for purchase of new commercial aircraft to renovate the country's aviation fleet after the removal of sanctions, an official says.

Executives of plane manufacturers from France, Brazil, Canada, Russia, Japan and China have traveled to Iran and introduced their products, Secretary of the Association of Iranian Airlines Maqsoud As'adi-Samani said.

"After the Vienna agreement, chief executives or sales managers of all aircraft manufacturers have visited Iran for negotiations on selling planes," he told the Tasnim news agency.

Talks still continue between the Iranian airlines and the Brazilians but no agreement has been signed yet with either of the companies, As'adi-Samani said.

Officials have said Iran would need between 400-500 new aircraft worth at least US$20 billion in the next decade.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA), the world's largest airline body, says it will look to advise Iran on modernizing its aviation operations.

IATA Chairman and Chief Executive Tony Tyler said Iran's aviation industry is set for a massive boom with tens of millions to start flying in and out the country after sanctions after lifted.

His association wants to have "a strong presence in the country", Tyler said on the sidelines of the IATA Aviation Day Middle East and Africa conference in Abu Dhabi, cited by the Emirati media.

IATA sees 31.6 million new air travelers in Iran by 2034. There are currently 12 million passengers traveling by air in the country, whose numbers will rise to 43 million, the association said.

The country of 80 million people is being coveted by international airlines as the Middle East's biggest potential aviation market.

"It's going to be huge," said Tyler whose association represents Iranian carriers Iran Air and Mahan Air among over 250 global airlines.

IATA also wants to set up payment plans for airlines and travel agents selling airfares in Iran, he added.

Iran's tourism officials have said they expect a "tsunami" of foreign tourists when Western sanctions are lifted on the country, meaning they have to rush through their transportation development plans.

The Iranian government plans to spend heavily to develop its tourism industry in an ambitious plan aimed at attracting 20 million foreign travelers and up to US$30 billion in revenues a year by 2025.