This month, Pakistan International Airlines resumed flights between Islamabad and Paris, with news that the once-banned airline is also planning to relaunch flights to the United Kingdom. This week, the official news agency of Iran announced that flights between Iran and Europe will resume in January, with efforts underway to add services to the UK.
The return of connections between Iran and Europe
On January 13, 2025, the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) announced that flights between Iran and Europe would resume on January 31, 2025 (not February 31 as in the report). The first route to reopen will be between Tehran and Paris, operated by Iranian private carrier Iran Airtour Airlines.
Flights between Iran and Europe were suspended in mid-October 2024 after the European Union imposed sanctions on Iran over allegations it had sent drones to Russia for use in the Ukraine war. Those sanctions specifically targeted Iran Air, Saha Airlines and Mahan Air, although the allegations were dismissed by the Iranian authorities who strongly protested against the aviation bans, which it said only affected the Iranian citizens living and working in Europe.
More Euro expansion on the way
The UK also terminated all air services to and from Iran, shutting down the three weekly flights between Tehran and London operated by Iran Air. Iran Airtour Airlines CEO Seyyed Reza Mousavi confirmed that the airline will start flying to Paris on January 31 using its Airbus A300 for twice-weekly services on Mondays and Fridays, adding that the airline,
He also revealed that Iran Airtour had been working for the past three years to be able to launch flights to Europe, including time spent obtaining a Third Country Operator (TCO) authorization from the European Union after meeting its requirements. The CEO confidently predicted that the flights to Paris and other European destinations will be packed as many passengers have been unable to fly directly to Iran in the past months.
Hossein Pourfarzaneh, head of Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization, said the embargo was unprofessional and cruel and that the resumption of flights is the result of a month of efforts made by the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Civil Aviation Organization and Iran Airtour. He added that the flights were needed to assist people with health issues and to procure medicines.
The shadow of more sanctions over European fuel supply
With sanctions in place, supplying fuel can be an issue, which Pourfarzaneh said was unreasonable and unjust. He acknowledged that many fuel suppliers are hesitant to work with Iranian airlines due to their ties with the United States and fears of sanctions, although he confirmed that a company in Paris is willing to supply jet fuel, but the prices are higher than usual.
Fleet data from ch-aviation shows that Iran Airtour has a small fleet of 16 aircraft, although eight of those are listed as inactive. The active aircraft include one Airbus A300-600, one A300-600R, two A310-300s and four McDonnell Douglas MD-82s, while those listed as inactive include:
one A300-600 and two A300-600Rs
two A310-300s,
one A320-200
one MD-83 and one MD-87.
Obtaining the Third Country Operator (TCO) authorization from the EU is a breakthrough and opens the way for other airlines to follow suit. It shows that Iran Airtour can comply with international standards, with Pourfarzaneh adding that another Iranian airline, Qeshm Air, will also launch flights to two European destinations and that the possibility of flights to London is being explored.
Source » simpleflying