IranAir hopes to finalise Airbus deal in two weeks

Airbus and IranAir will finalise a deal to buy aircraft in two weeks, the head of Iran’s flag carrier said Tuesday, adding Airbus has agreed to arrange financing for the first 17 planes. Uncertainty over financing of the deal and political opposition in the United States against Iran have slowed down Tehran’s efforts to import aircraft following the lifting of nuclear-related sanctions this year. Iran signed a $16.6b deal for 80 Boeing passenger jets Sunday and was said to be close to a deal with Airbus, in the biggest package of firm contracts with Western companies since Iran’s 1979 revolution. IranAir CE Farhad Parvaresh said he hoped to finalise the deal with Airbus in two weeks. “There are only a few small remaining issues like financing. Airbus has agreed to provide financing for 17 planes,” he was quoted as saying by Tasnim news agency. The first contract is expected to involve some 50-60 jets out of 118 provisionally ordered during a visit to France by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in January.<br/>