Half of Iran’s civil jets grounded for lack of spare parts

The deputy head of Iran’s airlines association says that more than half of the country’s fleet of civilian aircraft is currently grounded due to a lack of spare parts.

“The number of inactive planes in Iran has risen to more than 170… as a result of missing spare parts, particularly motors,” Alireza Barkhor says in an interview with state news agency IRNA.

“If this trend continues, we will see even more planes grounded in the near future,” he adds.

Iran’s economy has struggled under sanctions that were lifted after a landmark nuclear deal in 2015, but reimposed again after the US withdrew from the pact in 2018.

In 2016, following the lifting of sanctions, Iran concluded deals to purchase 100 Airbus jets, 80 Boeing planes and 40 ATR aircraft. But the Islamic republic received only 11 planes, as deliveries were interrupted following the reimposition of sanctions.