Purchase Agreement for 20 ATR Aircraft Finalized

According to reports from Iran, the purchase agreement for 20 ATR light commercial aircraft, manufactured in France and Italy, has been finalized. This contract amounts to nearly one billion euros. ISNA news agency reported on February 3 that, according to Iran's Ministry of Roads and Urban Development, the purchase of Airbus aircraft for Iran Air will cost 10.5 billion dollars, while the purchase of 20 ATR72 aircraft will also cost close to one billion euros. Previously, following President Hassan Rouhani's visit to Italy and France, a contract was signed for the purchase of 118 Airbus aircraft between the parties. However, at that time, the Deputy Minister of Roads and Urban Development stated that a contract for the purchase of 40 short-range aircraft from ATR had been concluded. Aviation specialty websites like 'CH Aviation' report that the purchase of 20 aircraft has been confirmed, but the purchase of another 20 is also considered an option. The ATR72-600 aircraft are turboprop types, meaning they have a propeller instead of a large fan in the turbofan engines. These lightweight aircraft have a range of nearly 700 kilometers, with each aircraft estimated to cost around 25 million dollars. According to reports from Iran, the payment of 12 billion dollars for the Airbus and ATR aircraft will be made through leasing, which has become possible with the lifting of nuclear sanctions. ISNA reports that for the Airbus aircraft, Iran has only paid 15 percent of the contract cost in the first phase, with the European company covering the remaining 85 percent. Accordingly, the Ministry of Roads and Urban Development of Iran, which owns 60 percent of the national airline, Iran Air, must provide nearly 2 billion dollars for the recent purchase projects.