Iran's Aseman Airlines to lease seven Airbus jets: Sources

Iran's Aseman Airlines has agreed to lease seven Airbus jets, two aviation industry sources said on Thursday, scotching earlier reports that Iran had agreed to buy the aircraft directly from the European manufacturer. Labour Minister Ali Rabii was quoted by the Iranian Students' News Agency as saying that Iran, which is negotiating with Airbus through state flag carrier IranAir, had agreed with Airbus to buy seven aircraft. The report fueled French media speculation that a keenly awaited deal between IranAir and Airbus for more than 100 aircraft had been watered down significantly. But industry sources said the two deals were not connected and identified regional carrier Aseman Airlines as the company behind the much smaller deal to procure seven aircraft, which Rabii said would start arriving in May. Those jets will be leased rather than purchased directly from Airbus, the sources said, without identifying the leasing company.<br/>