Iran trims Airbus deal amid US regulatory delays

Iran has reduced the number of airplanes it plans to buy from Airbus by 6 amid delays in US regulatory approvals, and may knock 1 plane off a similar deal for more than 100 with Boeing, an Iranian official said. Iran announced plans in January to buy 118 jets worth US$27b at list prices from Airbus but has complained about unexpected delays in receiving US licences, which are needed due to the large number of US-supplied parts. The country’s deputy transport minister stepped up criticism Tuesday of what Iran sees as unfair delays in unblocking the deal, which is part of efforts to rebuild Iran’s elderly fleet that were built into a pact between Tehran and world powers to lift most Western sanctions. The deal to be finalised with Airbus in coming weeks could therefore be for 112 aircraft instead of 118, he said. <br/>