Canadian-Made Engines Do Not Prevent ATR Aircraft from Entering Iran

Although discussions about purchasing ATR aircraft began before the contracts with Boeing and Airbus were signed, the contract with ATR has not yet been finalized. The main obstacle to signing this contract was the Canadian-made engines, which the Iranian Ministry of Roads and Urban Development has announced are no longer a barrier to the agreement. Iran is simultaneously planning to purchase aircraft from Airbus and Boeing to enhance the capabilities of its smaller airports and to make its air fleet more flexible by acquiring short-range aircraft with lower passenger capacity, which has led to an initial agreement to purchase 20 ATR aircraft from the Italian-French company. After the finalization of contracts between Iran Air and the two major companies Boeing and Airbus, and with the first Airbus officially entering Iran Air's fleet, the Minister of Roads and Urban Development has announced the finalization of negotiations for the purchase of ATR aircraft. Abbas Akhoundi, the Minister of Roads and Urban Development, stated in an interview with ISNA that the negotiations for purchasing these aircraft have reached the final stage and are currently in the document exchange phase. Once this document exchange is completed, the entry of the first ATR aircraft into Iran's fleet will be officially pursued. Iran Air had previously expressed hope that with the finalization of the contract with this Italian-French company, it would be possible for several ATR aircraft to enter Iran's fleet before the current year ends, and with the new statements from the Iranian Minister of Roads, it seems that the execution of this contract could be possible in the last weeks of the Iranian year 1395. Why has this contract not yet been signed? Asghar Fakhrieh Kashan, the Deputy Minister of Roads and Urban Development, stated that final negotiations with ATR officials are still ongoing, mentioning that several ambiguities remained that they were negotiating over. One of the main issues was related to the engines of the ATR aircraft. These engines are made in Canada, and Iran had uncertainties regarding their use and after-sales services that needed to be addressed. The ATR aircraft engine is a turboprop type, manufactured by Pratt & Whitney of the USA and its Canadian branch. Given the not-so-good relations between Iran and Canada, Iranian companies are concerned about the possibility of after-sales service being cut off and the lack of spare parts being sent by the Canadian company. The engine of this aircraft is a turboprop, meaning that instead of a large fan in turbo-fan engines, it has a propeller. Fakhrieh Kashan mentioned that the cost Iran will pay for 20 ATR aircraft is estimated to be around $400 million, and if the contract is finalized, it can be expected that between three to four ATR aircraft will enter Iran's fleet by the end of the year. Iran's initial plan is to purchase 20 ATR 72 (model 600) aircraft, some of which have already been painted for Iran Air and are undergoing final tests. Iran Air is considering the ATR aircraft for short-haul routes. This company historically had weaknesses in this area, and this market was practically covered by the Aseman airline in Iran. One of the most significant advantages of the ATR aircraft over other passenger aircraft is its low price. Additionally, lower fuel consumption and maintenance costs help Iran Air to operate flights to smaller cities using such aircraft.