Airbus

"The civil aviation chief of Iran has said that the country intends to pursue legal action against both Airbus and ATR regarding their lack of parts supply." (Simple Flying, "Iran Eyes Legal Action Against Airbus And ATR Over Spare Parts Supply," 1/4/22).

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"Following the lifting of sanctions in January 2016, IranAir finalized contracts for purchasing 100 Airbus jets, 80 Boeing jets and 20+20 ATR [which is jointly owned by Airbus and Finmeccanica] aircraft. It has taken the delivery of 11 planes so far: one Airbus A321, two Airbus A330s and eight ATR 72-600s." (Financial Tribune, "50% of Iran’s Passenger Fleet Grounded by Technical Problems," 12/7/21).

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"Minister of Roads and Urban Development Mohammad Eslami says the international plane-manufacturing companies Airbus and Boeing intend to return to contracts they concluded with Iran several years ago. 'The plane-manufacturing companies are returning to implement the terms of the contracts,' Eslami was quoted as saying by Fars News Agency. 'It has been emphasized that the plane manufacturers should honor their obligations,' he added." (Financial Tribune, "Airbus, Boeing Plan to Return to Iran Deals," 5/19/21).

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"Aside from the energy sector, the country's aviation industry — thirsty for renovation following decades of Western embargos — was quick to finalize voluminous purchases from Airbus and Boeing. Nevertheless, US pressure forced a halt on the deliveries and a suspension of the fledgling agreements." (Al Monitor, "Chinese energy giant bids farewell to $5 billion Iran project," 10/8/2019).

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"Iran called on the European Union on Monday to press U.S. authorities to allow delivery of Airbus passenger aircraft purchased by Tehran, Iran’s student news agency ISNA reported.To upgrade its aging fleet, Iran Air ordered 200 passenger aircraft - 100 from Airbus, 80 from Boeing and 20 from Franco-Italian turboprop maker ATR - after a 2015 nuclear deal was reached between Iran and six major powers. But the U.S. Treasury revoked licenses for Boeing Co and France’s Airbus to sell commercial planes to Iran Air after President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of the agreement in May and reimposed sanctions." (Reuters, "Iran urges EU to press Washington on Airbus deliveries: ISNA," 12/17/2018).

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"In response to the U.S. decision to revoke licenses for the sale of passenger aircraft to Iran, will not ship any more aircraft after August 6, 2018; only 3 of the 100 aircraft ordered by Iran have been delivered. The company has not yet decided whether to seek a new export license from the United States." (Cathy Buyck, "Airbus Sticks to 2018 Delivery Target Despite Sluggish First Half," AIN Online, July 6, 2018.;  "Iran expects word from Airbus on plane deal soon," Reuters, May 11, 2018.). 

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"Analysts say a U.S. decision to revoke export licenses for jets sold to Iran, after pulling out of an international nuclear sanctions deal, could deepen Airbus’s wide-body woes since IranAir’s order for 100 jets had included 28 A330neos. Schulz said Airbus would not immediately reflect the collapse of the Iran deal in its order book as it uses a grace period for U.S. licenses to “study the political situation”" (June 4, 2018).

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"Under the announcement, companies selling commercial aeroplanes to Iran will be particularly hit. Companies such as Airbus and Boeing - which had agreed deals with Iran to sell 100 and 80 aircraft respectively after the 2015 deal - stand to lose billions of dollars because of the use of US-made parts in construction." (May 11, 2018)

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"Airbus, which is subject to the U.S. license because it makes at least 10 percent of its aircraft components in the U.S., says it will abide by the new U.S. sanctions but it could take "some time" to determine the full impact on the industry. It has already delivered two A330-200s and one A321 to Iran." (May 9, 2018). 

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In January 2018, the sales chief of European planemaker Airbus predicted Iran would take delivery of dozens of European jets it has ordered under a nuclear sanctions deal with major powers, but warned the transactions could take longer to complete than planned….So far IranAir has taken delivery of three Airbus jets and a handful of turboprops built by its Franco-Italian affiliate ATR.

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Iran’s Airtour Airlines has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for 45 Airbus (AIR.PA) A320neo aircraft, Airbus said on Thursday, in a deal unveiled at the Paris Airshow. (June 22, 2017).

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"Iran's official IRNA news agency is reporting that the third of the 100 planes it purchased from Airbus following a landmark nuclear with world powers has joined its commercial fleet. The now Iran Air A330 jet landed in Tehran Saturday after a flight from Toulouse, France, home to the headquarters of the European consortium. It has 32 business and 206 economy class seats. Iran Air received its first and the second planes from Airbus in January and March. Iran's flag carrier sealed a deal with Airbus in December for 100 planes. It separately reached an agreement to buy 80 planes from Boeing. Most of Iran's 250 commercial planes were purchased before the 1979 Islamic Revolution. In 2016, only about two thirds of them were operational because spare part shortages." (Associated Press,  "Third Airbus Plane Purchased By Iran Lands In Tehran," 3/25/2017).

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"An Airbus passenger plane landed in Tehran on Thursday, the first of 200 Western-built aircraft ordered by IranAir following the lifting of sanctions on Iran last year. "This is a historic moment for Iran, signalling the end of the sanctions era for the country ...This is a prelude to the delivery of other aircraft and the renovation of Iran's ageing air fleet," state TV said. Analysts say IranAir flies one of the world's oldest fleets and has had to rely on smuggled or improvised parts. Iran, which has not directly purchased a Western-built plane in nearly 40 years, has ordered 100 from Airbus, 80 from Boeing and 20 from turboprop maker ATR... IranAir hopes to receive 'at least two more from Airbus" by the end of March and a total of six A320 aircraft in calendar year 2017, Parvaresh said.'" (Reuters,  "Iran sees arrival of first Western plane ordered after sanctions lifted," 1/12/2017).

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"The head of IranAir took delivery on Wednesday of the first new Western jet under an international sanctions deal... The 189-seat plane is the first of 100 ordered from Airbus following a deal reached in 2015 between Tehran and world powers to lift nuclear-related sanctions against Iran, in return for restrictions on the country's nuclear activities... The airline has also ordered 80 aircraft from Boeing and is expected to seal an order for 20 turboprops from Europe's ATR." (Reuters, "IranAir Takes Delivery of First Airbus Jet Post-Sanctions," 1/11/2017).

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"Airbus... has officially booked a deal to sell 98 aircraft to IranAir in December, part of a surge in new orders at the end of last year that allowed it to beat arch-rival Boeing... in the race for new orders." (Reuters, "Airbus Officially Books IranAir Order in December," 1/11/2017).

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"Airbus said on Sunday Iran's state airline IranAir had accepted its first new jet, marking a key step in opening up trade under a nuclear sanctions deal between Iran and major powers. The Airbus A321 jetliner has been painted in IranAir livery and is expected to be delivered later this week. "The technical acceptance has been done with formal delivery still to be done," a spokesman for the European planemaker said. Iranian regulators said the aircraft had been placed on the country's aircraft register, indicating IranAir had taken ownership of the aircraft: the first of around 200 Western aircraft ordered since sanctions were lifted. "The registration has been done, and the delivery should be by the end of the week," Reza Jafarzadeh, a spokesman for Iran's Civil Aviation Organization, told Reuters by telephone. The 189-seat jet was assembled in Hamburg, Germany. From there, it is expected to be transferred to Airbus headquarters in Toulouse, France, for a formal handover on Wednesday. IranAir Chairman Farhad Parvaresh told state news agency IRNA there would be an official ceremony to mark the arrival of the Airbus jetliner in Tehran later this week." (Reuters, "Iran Takes Ownership of First Passenger Jet under Sanctions Deal," 1/8/2017).

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"European plane maker Airbus Group SE followed Boeing Co. in completing a multibillion-dollar plane deal with Iran's state air carrier, creating another big test case for how the incoming Trump administration responds to the West's accelerating economic opening with the Islamic Republic... Uncertainty has heightened over the fate of many of these commercial inroads in Iran since the election of Donald Trump... Mr. Trump hasn't weighed in publicly on Boeing's contract with Iran, and he and his team haven't detailed their position on the nuclear deal with Iran since the election. Even though it is a European company, Airbus is vulnerable to any big shift in U.S. policy toward Iran. Airbus requires specific U.S. approval for the sales because its jets include many American parts and technology that are subject to American export controls. It received that approval, from the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control, earlier this year. The U.S. has other levers that could make completing the Airbus transaction more difficult-for instance, forbidding any financing or payments to be routed through institutions with access to the American banking system... In announcing its deal earlier this month, Boeing said booking the Iran Air sales in its official order book was still subject to "contingencies." That caution is common with deals involving state-owned airlines. They can include final green lights from governments and often are linked to potential financing arrangements, said people familiar with the sales process." (Wall Street Journal, "Multibillion-Dollar Jet Deals with Iran Will Test Trump Policy," 12/22/2016).

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Iran has finalised a deal with European planemaker Airbus for seven aircraft, Labour Minister Ali Rabii was quoted as saying by the Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA) on Thursday. "The deal has been finalised with Airbus to buy seven planes. The delivery of the planes will start in May," Rabii said. A delegation from Airbus was in Tehran on Monday for talks to finalize a deal to sell around 100 planes, Iranian media reported... An Iranian official told Reuters in November that flag carrier IranAir had reached a deal with a foreign leasing company to finance 17 jets from Airbus. The head of IranAir said on Tuesday that Airbus had agreed to arrange financing for 17 planes, adding that IranAir was aiming to obtain the first five by March 2017. (Reuters, "Iran finalizes deal for 7 Airbus planes: ISNA," 12/15/2016).

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"Airbus Group SE said it’s evaluating the implications of a congressional vote that could block it and Boeing Co. from providing jets to Iran, though hasn’t given up on completing a $27 billion order announced in January. Airbus will wait to see how the U.S. Senate and President Barack Obama respond to the House decision, Claude Brandes, its vice president with responsibility for customer finance in the Mideast, said in an interview. Even if the Iran sale wins a reprieve, the vote has created a “state of uncertainty” just as the European company is negotiating final terms. “Whatever the substance of the measure it’s not great in terms of timing,” Brandes said. “We need to see the wording and we need to see how the Iranians react.” Whether or not Obama vetoes the House measure, as the White House has suggested, it “doesn’t bode well” for when President-elect Donald Trump takes over, he said. Trump has said he wants to tear up or renegotiate the nuclear deal to which the aircraft sales are tied. Brandes said Airbus might be able to go ahead with the delivery of a single A321 narrow-body before the end of this year should Iran pay in cash, though the aircraft “was discussed as part of a package” and a final contract would still need to be signed. The planemaker had also discussed supplying four A330 wide-bodies by May, he said." (Bloomberg News, "Airbus Frets Over House Iran Vote With $27 Billion Deal at Stake," 11/21/2016).

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"Iran has reached a deal with a foreign leasing company to finance the first 17 jets it plans to buy from Airbus, breaking a logjam in efforts to import aircraft following the lifting of sanctions, people familiar with the move said. The deal removes a significant hurdle to securing the first tranche of jets, following uncertainty over financing and political opposition in the United States and Iran, though the sources caution months of talking have thrown up new potential hurdles." (Reuters, "Iran's Airbus jet purchase gets boost from lease finance deal - sources," 11/7/2016).

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The U.S. government has given plane makers Boeing Co. and Airbus Group SE the all-clear to deliver jetliners to Iran Air in one of the highest-profile trade breakthroughs since nuclear sanctions were lifted on the Islamic Republic in January… Airbus on Wednesday said some of those deliveries may occur as early as this year, a spokesman said… Rep. Peter J. Roskam (R., Ill.), a critic of Iran plane deals, said, “There is a still a long way to go and many more hurdles to overcome before Iran can actually take delivery of these planes—and thankfully Congress is committed to making the process as difficult and expensive as possible.” Other obstacles remain, including plane financing. The U.S. approval “does not make the use of dollars significantly easier. So any financing will have to be in euro, already a challenge for a dollar-denominated asset,” said Bertrand Grabowski, managing director of aviation finance at DVB Bank SE. He added that government export credit agencies will have to play “a critical role for the first financing, there is no alternative.” That could be a challenge for Boeing. The U.S. government’s Export-Import bank, which can back plane deals, is restricted from supporting Iran-related transactions. Export credit agencies backing Airbus signaled they are ready to support a deal with Iran. (The Wall Street Journal,  "U.S. Gives Boeing, Airbus Go-Ahead to Send Airliners to Iran," 9/21/2016).

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Airbus Group lists a "Company Support Representative" in Tehran.

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"Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said that Iran will probably sign a deal to buy Airbus aircraft during his visit to France starting Monday. 'We already use Airbus or Boeing planes today,' Rouhani said, according to a transcript of an interview with broadcaster France 2 and Europe 1 radio, made available to AFP on Wednesday ahead of its airing. 'Usually when conditions are right our buyers will buy from one or the other and probably it will be Airbus,' he said." (AFP, "Iran will 'probably' buy Airbus planes during France trip: Rouhani," 11/11/15)

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"Iran plans to buy Airbus and Boeing passenger planes through long-term payment agreements once a nuclear accord with world powers is implemented, the transport minister said... To purchase new planes, 'our negotiations have been mostly with Airbus and Boeing, and we have provided them with our plans and needs until 2020,' Abbas Akhoundi was quoted as saying in Monday's Iran government daily. 'For shorter range planes, we have talked with other companies also,' he said, in remarks made to reporters on Sunday... Akhoundi said Iran had offered its 'proposals' to the aviation companies. 'A company will be founded. It leases or hire purchases the plane from the foreign companies, and provides the Iranian airlines with new planes, so that domestic companies are not involved with the purchase,' he explained." (AFP, "Iran plans Airbus, Boeing purchases under finance deals," 9/21/15)

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"Long-lasting sanctions against Iran has seen the average age of its commercial aircraft reach twice the industry average at 23 years. As a consequence and with a population of over 80 million, it is estimated that over the next ten years the country will need to purchase 400 commercial aircraft. A senior aviation official was quoted by the state news agency IRNA as indicating that the purchases would be split equally between Boeing and Airbus. 'Iran will buy a total of 80-90 planes per year from the two aviation giants in the first phase of renovating its air fleet,' said Mohammad Khodakarami who, according to IRNA, is currently the caretaker director of Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization. He also stated that 'We will purchase planes from Boeing and Airbus in equal numbers.'” (AviTrader, "Lifting of sanctions will see Iran purchase 80-90 aircraft per annum," 8/3/15)

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"Minister of Road and Urban Development Abbas Akhundi said on Wed. that Iran and France have negotiated over purchase of new Airbus planes and spare parts. Akhundi made the remarks Wednesday evening among reporters following his meeting with the visiting French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius. 'Cooperation between Iranian and French companies goes back a long way. During the recent visit to France, we also held satisfactory negotiations with various French companies on Iran’s transportation projects,' said Akhundi." (Mehr News, "Iran mulls renovating airliners with France Airbus," 7/30/15)

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"Planemaker Airbus (AIR.PA) said on Thursday it had not been part of a visit by a French business delegation to Iran this week, the most senior French trade mission to the country in years. ‘Nobody from Airbus Group participated in the trip,’ Rainer Ohler, head of communications for the Airbus parent group, said. A source close to the delegation had said the company had been represented in the team assembled by the main French employers' association MEDEF, comprising more than 100 executives from France's biggest firms.” (Reuters, “Airbus says had no role in French business visit to Iran,” 2/6/14)

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“Iran [welcomes] the most senior French trade delegation in years on Monday, telling more than 100 executives that the farsighted among them stood to win the race for business following an easing of some economic sanctions…’A new chapter has begun in relations between Iran and Europe,’ Mohammad Nahavandian, President Hassan Rouhani's chief of staff, was quoted as saying by the official IRNA news agency. ‘You should carry the message back that potential for cooperation with Iran is real and not to be overlooked,’ he told the delegation. ‘Those with longer foresight stand to win this race.’ The delegation of more than 100 executives from Medef, the French employers' association, on a Feb 2-5 trip, met Nahavandian and members of Iran's Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture, IRNA said. A source close to the delegation told Reuters it was the most senior group of entrepreneurs and financiers to visit Iran since the 1979 revolution, representing the defence, aviation, petrochemicals, automotive, shipping and cosmetics sectors. Among companies represented were Safran, Airbus , Total, GDF-Suez, Renault, Alcatel, Alstom, Amundi and L'Oréal, the source said. ‘Many of these firms have worked in Iran before and their goal now is to restore links,’ the source said. ‘The very makeup of the delegation shows these people are here to evaluate potential for cooperation.’ A French embassy source in Tehran said the visit was merely exploratory and ‘nothing is to be signed this time around.’” (Reuters, “Iran welcomes French business chiefs after sanctions eased,” 2/3/14)

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“A delegation of some of France's biggest companies will visit Iran next month to seek business as relations thaw with western powers, the head of the employers' union said on Wednesday…The prospect of an easing of trade restrictions has whetted the appetite of French firms eager to win back business in a country where some used to have extensive operations. The French Medef bosses' association has organized the visit for February 2-5, its president Pierre Gattaz told a news conference, confirming a report about the trip in the Wall Street Journal…Former French ambassador to Iran Francois Nicoullaud told Reuters that French firms that operated in Iran before the sanctions wanted to return. He cited Renault, PSA Peugeot Citroen, Airbus Group , Credit Agricole, Societe Generale and BNP Paribas.” (Reuters, “French trade delegation to visit Iran next month,” 1/15/14)