Iran has added 11 new aircraft to its civil aviation fleet as part of efforts to strengthen domestic air transportation. According to media outlets affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the announcement was made on Sunday in Tehran during a ceremony attended by Civil Aviation Organization chief Hossein Pourfardaneh.
Pourfardaneh stated that, in addition to the new planes, one helicopter and five small passenger aircraft have also entered service. These additions are expected to contribute more than 2,500 passenger seats to the country’s air transport network.
“These projects aim to improve service quality and expand air connectivity across the nation, including to islands and remote provinces,” Pourfardaneh told Tasnim news agency.
He added that 13 transportation projects worth about $125 million have been launched to strengthen Iran’s aviation infrastructure. Since 2021, more than 5,100 passenger seats have been added to the country’s civil aviation capacity.
Iran has long struggled to renew its fleet due to international sanctions that severely restrict the purchase of new aircraft and spare parts. More than half of the country’s roughly 330 commercial aircraft are currently out of service. As a result, Tehran has turned to second-hand or leased aircraft to fill the gap.
According to local media, Iran received several used Airbus A330 planes from China earlier this year as part of oil-for-goods exchange agreements.
At the end of September, an Iranian lawmaker also announced that the country had received Russian-made MiG-29 fighter jets and that further purchases—including Sukhoi Su-35 jets—were under consideration. These developments are seen as part of the expanding cooperation between Tehran and Moscow in defense and transportation sectors.
