Agreement For 30 737 MAX Airplanes Signed In Tehran

An agreement between Boeing and Iran's Aseman Airlines has been signed at a ceremony in Tehran that will supply 30 737 MAX airliners to the Iranian airline between 2022 and 2024, provided the deal is approved by the U.S. government.

Business Standard online reports that Iranian Labor Minister Ali Rabii said at the signing ceremony that the government is looking forward to upgrading the air fleet so that it can begin operating on regional routes.

Aseman spokesman Amir Reza Mostafavi told the French news service AFP that the deal has been finalized, and "we are now waiting for OFAC permission within the next month." Aseman will pay five percent of the purchase price, estimated at $3 billion, in cash with the remainder financed through a plan organized by Boeing.

But the deal also hinges on whether President Donald Trump makes good on a threat to re-impose trade sanctions on Iran. The administration is currently reviewing a deal made by the Obama Administration to ease trade sanctions on Iran in exchange for curbing its nuclear program.

Boeing is also building 80 airliners for national carrier Iran Air. The planemaker is emphasizing that the contract supports 18,000 U.S. jobs.

Many trade sanctions against Iran remain in place, but a carve-out was created for aircraft manufacturers in the nuclear deal. Iran's air fleet is increasing in age, and the government is anxious to import new airplanes into the country.

Aseman currently flies three 727-200s that first flew in 1980. The carrier has 36 aircraft in total, half of them Dutch Fokker 105s.

Airbus also has an agreement with Iran to supply 100 airliners to the country.

(Image from file)

FMI: Original Story