Iran to finalise aircraft deal with ATR next week

Iran Air is expected to finalise an aircraft purchase deal with ATR the next week, Asghar Fakhrieh Kashan, Iran’s deputy minister of roads and urban development, said. Representatives from the aircraft manufacturer will visit Tehran Dec 28 to hold a final round of negotiations with Iran Air, Fakhrieh Kashan said. The Iranian airline is allowed to buy 40 planes from ATR, he said, adding that Iran Air will pay 15% of the needed fund and 85% will be provided by foreign financers. Fakhrieh Kashan also said that the carrier will purchase 8 new aircraft by March 2017, including 1 A320 and 2 A330 planes from Airbus as well as 5 ATR aircraft. Earlier, Dec 11, Iran Air finalised a long awaited contract with Boeing to purchase 80 passenger planes. <br/>