Iran Air has more than 9,000 employees but only six active aircraft, Chief Executive Taher Abdolhay disclosed at a press conference in Iran. The state-owned flag carrier once operated about 40 aircraft, but sanctions, financial constraints and shortages of parts, qualified pilots and simulator access have sharply reduced its operating capacity.
Abdolhay said two of the airline’s four Airbus A300-600s are airworthy, while only one of its two Airbus A310s is active. Of 13 ATR aircraft, one or sometimes two can operate depending on conditions. Two Fokker aircraft remain in the fleet, but a lack of qualified pilots and access to the necessary simulator prevents their regular use.
The chief executive argued that staffing levels and fixed costs must be adjusted to the smaller fleet. He also cited operational restrictions and air-traffic difficulties affecting aircraft that are technically ready to fly. Iran Air has faced further obstacles arranging international flights, including services intended to transport medicine. The six-aircraft figure refers to aircraft active or regularly operating, rather than necessarily the carrier’s complete owned or leased fleet.