Iran Looks for Planes and Partners in Post-Sanctions Order

Iran's national airline is preparing for the day when it's finally released from the US sanctions that have worn down its fleet and crimped access to other nations.

- Agencies

With nuclear talks under way between Iran and the US, executives from Iran Air used the annual gathering of the International Air Transport Association in New Delhi last week to sound out potential airline partners and suppliers who were in attendance, according to people familiar with the matter.

Iran Air executives made contact with representatives from Japan Airlines Co., Vietnam Airlines and Royal Air Maroc as it seeks to line up codeshare agreements, the people said, asking not to be named discussing private matters. The encounters were mostly ad-hoc, they said, given the conference-hall setup and the sensitivities of doing business with Iran.

Executives from the state-owned carrier also dropped into an evening reception sponsored by Boeing Co. as they consider which aircraft Iran Air might acquire should US-made jets become accessible again, the people added.

Tehran-based Iran Air is eager to expand its operations to meet rising travel demand and is actively seeking new aircraft, spare parts and partnerships with carriers that fly to destinations it's currently barred from serving, the people said.

The carrier aims to increase its fleet from fewer than 50 mostly grounded aircraft to at least 100 through direct purchases, if permitted, or by acquiring second-hand jets from foreign markets, the people said.