Iran Air cleared to fly in EU countries
Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
Publication Date | 16 June 2016 |
Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Iran Air cleared to fly in EU countries, 16 June 2016, available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/57a43bcdc.html [accessed 6 January 2017] |
Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
June 16, 2016
The EU says that it is removing state airline Iran Air from a blacklist and will allow most of the carrier's planes to fly in EU countries.
"Following my visit to Iran in April, a technical assessment was successfully carried out in May," EU Transport Commissioner Violeta Bulc said in a statement on June 16.
She added that "we are now able to allow most aircraft from Iran Air back into European skies."
Only Iran Air's EU-manufactured Airbus planes were previously allowed to fly in the EU.
A European Commission official said that Iran Air's Fokker 100 and Boeing 747 planes remain banned from EU skies.
Iran's commercial airlines suffered badly under U.S. and EU sanctions imposed over its controversial nuclear program, which kept them from obtaining spare parts for their planes.
But Iran's historic deal with six world powers in 2015 ended years of deadlock between the two sides.
Earlier this year, shortly after the deal was announced, Iran ordered more than 100 Airbus planes and it is in talks with U.S. giant Boeing to buy more.
Based on reporting by AFP and bloomberg.com
Link to original story on RFE/RL website