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Iran Air

Founded	1944 as Iranian Airways Company
Commenced operations	1961 as Iran Air
AOC #	FS-100
Hubs	Tehran Imam Khomeini International Airport Tehran Mehrabad International Airport
Focus cities	Bandar Abbas International Airport Mashhad Shahid Hasheminejad International Airport Shiraz Shahid Dastgheib International Airport
Frequent-flyer program	SkyGift
Subsidiaries	Iran Air Cargo Iran Air Ground Services Iran Air Catering Homa Aviation Training Center
Fleet size	30
Destinations	75
Parent company	Ministry of Roads & Urban Development of Iran (60%)
Headquarters	Mehrabad Airport, Tehran, Iran
Key people	Brig. Gen. Shamseddin Farzadipour, Chairman & CEO
Revenue	$329.74 million (2013)
Operating income	$7.99 million (2013)
Net income	-$71.67 million (2013)
Total assets	$477.62 million (2013)
Total equity	$34,972 (2013)
Employees	10,696 (2013)

Iran Air is the main airline of Iran. It is also known as Homa in Iran. This name comes from a mythical Persian bird, like a phoenix or griffin. The airline's main offices are in Tehran, at Mehrabad Airport.

As of 2023, Iran Air flies to 72 places in Asia and Europe. Its main airports are Imam Khomeini International Airport and Mehrabad International Airport in Tehran. Iran Air also has a special part called Iran Air Cargo. It uses one cargo plane to deliver goods around the world.

History of Iran Air

How Iran Air Started

An Iranian Airways Douglas DC-3 cargo plane in 1954.

Iranian Airways began in May 1944. After World War II, its first passenger flight went from Tehran to Mashhad. Soon, it added flights to other Iranian cities. By 1947, it flew to Cairo, Baghdad, Tel Aviv, and Paris.

Between 1945 and 1962, Iranian Airways became a big airline in Iran. It also had some international flights to Europe. Its first planes were Douglas DC-3s. Later, it added Douglas DC-4 and Vickers Viscount aircraft.

In 1954, another private airline, Persian Air Services (PAS), started. PAS first carried only cargo. Then, it began passenger flights within Iran. By 1960, PAS flew passengers to European cities. These included Geneva, Paris, Brussels, and London. They used Boeing 707 and Douglas DC-7 planes. These planes were rented from a Belgian airline called Sabena.

Becoming Iran Air

Iranian Airways became a government-owned company in 1961. On February 24, 1961, Iranian Airways and PAS joined together. They formed the Iran National Airlines Corporation (HOMA), known as Iran Air. The Huma bird became its symbol.

HOMA was a public company. It brought together the two older airlines. They used planes like Avro Yorks, Douglas DC-3s, Douglas DC-6s, and Vickers Viscounts. In 1964, Iran Air became a full member of International Air Transport Association (IATA). Iran Air was also one of the first airlines to order the Boeing 747SP.

Growing Around the World

An Iran Air Boeing 707-320 at Frankfurt Airport in 1970.

An Iran Air Boeing 747SP at John F. Kennedy International Airport in 1976.

In 1965, Iran Air got its first jet planes. These were the Boeing 707 and six Boeing 727-100. Later, they added the Boeing 737-200 in 1971. In 1974, they got three longer Boeing 727-200s. From 1978 to 1979, they added different types of Boeing 747s.

By the mid-1970s, Iran Air flew to many cities in Europe. They had over 30 flights a week to London alone. On May 29, 1971, flights from Tehran to New York City began. These flights stopped in London. Soon, they became non-stop flights using Boeing 747SPs. This made Iran Air the second airline from the Middle East to fly non-stop to New York.

This flight set a new world record. It was the longest non-stop scheduled flight at the time. It lasted 12 hours and 15 minutes. In 1978, Iran Air bought six Airbus A300 planes. These were for busy flights within Iran and to nearby countries. By the end of 1978, Iran Air flew to 31 international places. These stretched from New York City to Peking and Tokyo.

In the late 1970s, Iran Air was growing very fast. It was also one of the most profitable airlines. By 1976, Iran Air was the second safest airline in the world. It had no accidents for at least ten years. Only Qantas was ranked higher.

Lt. Gen. Ali-Mohammad Khademi was the head of Iran Air from 1962 to 1978.

An Iran Air domestic flight at Mashhad International Airport in the 1970s.

Challenges and Changes

Due to international rules, Iran Air could not easily buy new planes or parts. The last new Western planes Iran Air got were two Airbus A300-B4s in 1994. These were given as payment after a sad event in 1988. This was when Iran Air Flight 655 was shot down by a US Navy ship.

In 2001, Iran Air bought six used Airbus A300s from Turkey. But after two years, most of them could not fly. This was due to engine problems. One of these planes returned to service by 2010.

In 2007, Iran Air started flights from Tehran to Caracas, Venezuela. This flight stopped in Damascus. It was very expensive to run. The plane used a lot of fuel. Also, the plane could not take off with a full load of passengers and fuel from Damascus. This was because of the high altitude and heat. Iran Air lost a lot of money on each flight. So, in October 2007, another airline took over the route.

Before 2011, Iran Air Tours used many Russian-made Tupolev Tu-154 planes. But after several accidents with this type of plane, Iran banned them. The Tu-154 planes were slowly replaced with MD-83s.

By 2014, over 100 planes in Iran were not flying. Some belonged to Iran Air. This was because they could not get new parts. This was due to international rules. These rules also made Iran Air's planes older. Their safety record also became worse. By March 2017, Iran Air's planes were about 24 years old on average.

Flights often faced long delays. This made passengers very upset. Officials usually blamed the international rules. But some also said that poor management was a reason for the delays.

EU Rules and Fuel Issues

An Iran Air Airbus A300B4-600R lands at London's Heathrow Airport in 2014.

In July 2010, an Iranian official said that the UK, Germany, and UAE would not refuel Iranian planes. This happened after the US put new rules on Iran. Iran Air said it was denied fuel. But some airports said they would continue to refuel Iranian flights.

On July 6, 2010, the European Commission announced a ban. It said Iran Air's Airbus A320, Boeing 727, and Boeing 747 planes could not fly in the EU. This was due to safety worries. This made it hard for Iran Air to fly to Europe with its own planes.

In 2012, the EU allowed Iran Air planes to refuel at some smaller European airports. This helped keep the refueling business within the EU. In January 2012, Iran Air flights to London Heathrow had to stop for fuel at Manston Airport in Kent. But this arrangement ended later that year.

New Planes and New Rules

Iran Air orders after the JCPOA
Manufacturer	Aircraft type	Orders	Deliveries	Contract value (in billions)	List prices (in billions)
Airbus	A320-200	6	N/A	N/A	$0.606
	A320neo	32	N/A		$3.232
	A321-200	9	1		$0.946
	A330-200	9	2		$1.908
	A330-900	28	N/A		$8.299
	A350-1000	16	N/A		$5.864
	A380-800	12	N/A	N/A
Total		100	3	< $10.0	$20.856
Boeing	737 MAX 8	50	N/A	N/A	$5.620
	777-300ER	15	N/A		$5.207
	777-9	15	N/A		$6.132
Total		80	0	$8.0 to $9.5	$16.959
ATR	72-600	20	13	$0.536	$1.09
Total		200	16	$18.5 to $20.0	$38.334

In January 2016, rules that limited Iran's civil aviation were lifted. This meant Iranian airlines could buy new planes. They could also refuel at most European airports. Iran Air planned to buy at least 100 new planes.

However, in May 2018, the US brought back some rules against Iran. This meant Iran Air had to cancel its order for Boeing planes. It was unclear if Airbus planes would still be delivered. Only planes delivered within a short time frame before the rules started again were allowed.

Onboard Rules

Iran Air follows Islamic law on its flights. This means they do not serve alcoholic beverages. Also, their food menu does not include non-Halal options, like pork. Many airlines in Muslim countries have similar rules.

Destinations

As of September 2023, Iran Air flies to places within Iran. It also flies to international cities in Asia and Europe. In total, Iran Air serves 75 destinations in 17 countries.

Pilgrim Flights

Until 2016, Iran Air flew many pilgrims to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Jeddah is the airport gateway to Mecca. Tens of thousands of people flew each year for religious journeys. In 2016, these flights stopped due to tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia. But they started again in 2017.

Sharing Flights

Iran Air has agreements to share flights with other airlines. This means you can book a flight with Iran Air, but fly on another airline's plane. These airlines are:

Fleet

Iran Air Airbus A320-200.

Iran Air Airbus A321-200.

Iran Air Airbus A330-200.

Iran Air ATR 72-600.

Iran Air Boeing 747-200C.

Current Fleet

As of February 2024, Iran Air has these planes. Some might be stored or used when needed:

**Iran Air fleet**
Aircraft	In service	Passengers
Aircraft	In service	H	E	Total
Airbus A300B4-200	1	18	236	254
Airbus A300-600R	4	22	239	261
Airbus A310-300	1	14	198	212
Airbus A319-100	2	12	108	120
Airbus A320-200	2	12	144	156
Airbus A321-200	1	12	182	194
Airbus A330-200	2	32	206	238
ATR 72-600	13	—	68	68
Fokker 100	3	—	104	104
Iran Air Cargo Fleet
Boeing 747-200C/SF	1	Cargo
Total	30

Former Fleet

Iran Air has used these planes in the past:

Aircraft	Fleet	Introduced	Retired	Notes/Refs
Airbus A300B2-200	7	1980	2019
Airbus A300B2-200	1	1980	1988	Shot down as flight IR655 by the US Navy.
Airbus A300B4-200F	2	2008	Unknown	Aircraft are currently stored.
Airbus A310-200	6	2001	2009	Former Turkish Airlines fleets. 3 aircraft are currently stored.
Avro York	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	Operated by Persian Air Services prior to 1962 merger with Iranian Airways.
Beechcraft Model 18	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	Operated by Iranian Airways prior to 1962 merger with Persian Air Services.
Boeing 707-300	5	1965	2000	Operated by Persian Air Services prior to 1962 merger with Iranian Airways.
Boeing 727-100	3	1965	2006
Boeing 727-100	1	1965	1980	Crashed as flight IR291.
Boeing 727-200/Adv	5	1974	2014	3 aircraft are currently stored.
Boeing 727-200/Adv	1	1974	2011	Crashed in icing conditions as flight IR277.
Boeing 737-200	6	1971	2004	Stored at Tehran Aerospace Exhibition
Boeing 747-100B	6	1974	2014	EP-IAM is currently stored. 5 aircraft were leased from Pan Am and Cargolux. Iran Air was the first and the last operator of its model.
Boeing 747-100SF	3	1983	1986	Disposed to Iran Air Force.
Boeing 747-200B	1	2007	2010
Boeing 747-200F	4	1980	2004	EP-ICC is currently stored. Leased from the Iran Air Force.
Boeing 747-200M	3	1976	2016	EP-IAG and EP-IAI are currently stored.
Boeing 747-400	1	2017	2017	Leased from Kabo Air for Hajj flights.
Boeing 747SP	4	1976	2016	All aircraft are stored near Tehran IKA Airport. Last passenger commercial operator.
Convair 240	Unknown	Unknown	1960	Operated by Iranian Airways prior to 1962 merger with Persian Air Services.
de Havilland Dove	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown
de Havilland Dragon Rapide	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown
Douglas DC-3	Unknown	Unknown	1972
Douglas DC-4	Unknown	Unknown	1960	Prior to 1962 merger, passenger versions operated by Iranian Airways, freight versions operated by Persian Air Services.
Douglas DC-6B	Unknown	Unknown	1972
Douglas DC-7C	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	Operated by Persian Air Services prior to 1962 merger with Iranian Airways.
Douglas DC-8	1	1976	1977	Leased from Martinair.
McDonnell Douglas DC-9	1	1976	1976	Leased from Martinair.
Lockheed L-749 Constellation	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown
Vickers Viscount	Unknown	Unknown	1960

Concorde Order

In 1972, Iran Air ordered two Aérospatiale-BAC Concorde supersonic jets. They also had an option for a third. This made them the last airline to order Concorde planes for regular flights. However, Iran Air canceled these orders in 1980.

Former Related Companies

Iran Air Tours

Iran Air Tours started in 1973. It was a company fully owned by Iran Air. It focused on special flights and tourism. In 2011, another company bought it. But the new owner could not pay its bills. So, in 2016, the airline went back to being privately owned.

Homa Hotel Group

Homa Hotel Group was created in 1979. The government of Iran started it. This happened after the government took over the hotel industry. As of 2016, Iran's Social Security Organization owned it.

Accidents and Incidents

Overview

Before Iran Air was formed in 1962, the two older airlines had some plane losses. Iranian Airways lost six Douglas DC-3s in crashes and a fire. This happened between 1949 and 1959. One of its Douglas DC-4s was shot down in 1961. Persian Air Services lost three Avro Yorks in crashes and a maintenance accident. This was between 1955 and 1959.

Since 1962, Iran Air has had several plane losses. This includes crashes and the shooting down of Iran Air Flight 655. The airline has also had twenty hijacking events on its planes.

Notable Incidents

On September 14, 1950, an Iranian Airways Douglas DC-3 crashed. It was flying to Saudi Arabia. It crashed soon after taking off from Tehran Mehrabad International Airport. All nine people on board, who worked for the airline, died.
On December 25, 1952, an Iranian Airways Douglas DC-3 crashed. It was landing at Tehran airport. There were 25 people on board. Only one person survived.
On January 21, 1980, Iran Air Flight 291 crashed. It was a Boeing 727-100. The plane hit a mountain north of Tehran in a snowstorm. This happened while it was trying to land at Mehrabad Airport. All 128 people on board died.
On July 3, 1988, Iran Air Flight 655 was flying over the Persian Gulf. It was going from Bandar Abbas to Dubai. A United States Navy ship, the USS Vincennes, shot the plane down with a missile. All 16 crew members and 274 passengers died. This was a tragic event.
On June 9, 1996, a Boeing 727-200 was on a training flight. The crew forgot to lower the landing gear. The plane landed on its belly at Rasht Airport. It slid for over 2 kilometers. The crew then took off again to try another landing. A fire started in the back of the plane. It damaged the flight controls. The plane crashed in a field, killing four of the seven crew members.
On January 2, 2008, Iran Air Fokker 100 EP-IDB slid off the runway. Its wing caught fire during takeoff. It was a domestic flight from Mehrabad Airport to Shiraz International Airport. No one was hurt. The plane was too damaged to be used again.
On January 9, 2011, Iran Air Flight 277 crashed. It was a Boeing 727-200 from Tehran. It crashed near Orumiyeh in bad weather. It was carrying 105 people. At least 78 people died.