IranAir (IR, Tehran Mehrabad) is planning to use its new fleet of ATR-72-600s on an expanded domestic network, reports Aviation Iran. The carrier has taken delivery of the first four of the aircraft from ATR - Avions de Transport Régional on May 16, of which it has twenty on order, with options for an additional twenty.
Iran Air will base an undisclosed number of ATR-72-600s at Arak airport, in Iran's south west. The airport has a current weekly seat capacity of 362, with Iran Aseman Airlines (EP, Tehran Mehrabad) providing services to Mashad and Asaloyeh. Iran Air plans to add routes to Tehran Imam Khomeini, Ahwaz, and Shiraz, and potentially destinations in Azerbaijan. Regional airports at Hamadan and Kermanshah have also been named as Iran Air ATR bases.
The airline is also considering medium- and long-haul international routes as it adds to its A330 fleet. Currently, Iran Air has a total of forty-five A330 Family aircraft on order from Airbus (AIB, Toulouse Blagnac) including twenty-eight A330-900s and eight A330-200s. It has so far taken delivery of two A330-200s. New international destinations under consideration include Kuala Lumpur International and Budapest.
