Iran aims for ambitious aviation revamp

As Iranian officials scramble to reconnect to the global economy, one sector is getting early clearance for take-off: its creaky aviation industry. In a raft of early deals and talks following the lifting of broad economic sanctions against Iran, officials and aviation executives there have signalled they are targeting an ambitious revamp of the country’s aviation infrastructure. Such a rebuild would come as Tehran already starts to renew its aging fleet of commercial jetliners. The moves could help lure more business to Iran as well as, eventually, tourism. Tehran is tapping French airport operator Aéroports de Paris and construction-to-media conglomerate Bouygues SA to design and build a new terminal at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport, according to people familiar with the matter. French construction firm Vinci SA is expected to develop and operate airports in Mashhad and another Iranian city.<br/>