France joined a growing number of govts in blocking flights by Iranian carrier Mahan Air as the US stepped up its campaign to squeeze Iran’s economy, people familiar with the matter said. Mahan, which the US contends has links to Iran’s Quds military force, flew 4 flights a week to Paris Charles de Gaulle. The move was a priority for the Trump administration, according to one of the people. The Trump administration is trying to choke off Iran’s economy as part of a “maximum pressure campaign” aimed at getting Tehran to stop developing ballistic missiles and abandon what the US terms malign activity in the region. France’s decision to deny landing rights to Mahan follows a similar move by Germany in January. It was reported that the French ban would take effect April 1 <br/>
unaligned
Iranian investigators are probing the second serious landing-gear incident involving a Fokker 100 in the space of 3 days after an Iran Aseman aircraft diverted to Tehran when its undercarriage only partially deployed. The aircraft had been operating the EP840 service from Tehran to Ilam March 22. As the aircraft conducted its approach to Ilam, the right-hand main landing-gear failed to extend. Attempts to recycle the landing-gear were unsuccessful and the crew, believing that only the left-hand gear had deployed, aborted the landing at Ilam. Inspection of the hydraulic system revealed that contamination in the vicinity of filter screens and the restrictor check valve in the right-hand main gear had prevented the release of hydraulic pressure, and stopped its deployment. <br/>
Wow Air’s future appears increasingly uncertain after Icelandair Group ended newly-initiated discussions with the airline. Wow Air had entered talks with Icelandair Group March 21 after previous potential suitor Indigo Partners pulled out of investment negotiations. But Icelandair Group says a possible involvement in Wow’s operations “will not materialise”. The talks had originally been due to continue until 25 March. Icelandair Group’s renewed interest in Wow marked the second time the two sides had embarked on tie-up discussions. It had previously disclosed, in November last year, that it intended to take over Wow, which was suffering heavy losses. But pre-conditions for a shareholders’ meeting on the acquisition were not met. <br/>
Red Wings Airlines has canceled its order for 6 Airbus A220-300s, Russia’s only order for the type, for economic reasons. Red Wings CE Evgeny Klyucharev said the carrier will change to the larger A321 narrowbody. The airline had hoped to begin A220 operations this spring, he said. The A220 has not yet gained a Russian certificate. The Federal Air Transport Agency said the Red Wings cancellation was not related to aircraft certification. Klyucharev said Red Wings had great expectations for the A220 but will now switch to larger A321 narrowbody aircraft to develop its flight network. The airline plans to receive 4 of the type this year, which will supplement the current fleet of 4 A320s and 8 A321s. <br/>