Announcement of Resumption of Direct Flights by Private Airlines Between Iran and Europe

The head of Iran's Civil Aviation Organization stated that direct flights by Iranian private airlines to European destinations will soon resume. Hossein Pourfarzaneh said in a press conference on Tuesday, January 24, that the first direct flight will take place on February 1 between Tehran and Paris. According to this aviation official, this flight will be operated by the private company 'Iran Air Tour.' It has been reported that Germany, Spain, and Italy are three other European countries to which 'Iran Air Tour' flights will soon be established. Three months ago, on October 15, 2023, the European Union sanctioned three Iranian airlines—Iran Air (Homa), Mahan, and Saha—accusing them of being involved in the transfer of money and weapons for the Islamic Republic's allies, including the transfer of missiles to Russia for use in the Ukraine war. Following this development, private companies such as Iran Air Tour and Qeshm Air had also suspended their flights to Europe. These companies are not on the EU sanctions list, and therefore, the resumption of their flights will not mean a violation or lifting of sanctions, but it could be seen as a sign of slight improvement in bilateral relations between Tehran and Brussels after a period of cold relations. Iran Air Tour was established in 1972 under the national airline of Iran. The company was state-owned until 2010 but was transferred to the cooperative company 'Hesayar' under the Ministry of Defense of the Islamic Republic at the beginning of 2011 based on Article 44 of the Iranian Constitution, which promotes privatization. However, due to Hesayar's failure to meet financial obligations, this airline was transferred to the private sector in January 2016. The head of Iran's Civil Aviation Organization also announced plans for direct flights by Qeshm Air to two European destinations but postponed the announcement of further details, including flight destinations and start dates, to the future. Hossein Pourfarzaneh also mentioned that London is currently not among the flight destinations for Iranian companies, but establishing direct flights to the British capital is likely and under consideration.