Jan. 12--Iranian airlines are importing spare parts at rates as much as five times of globally standard rates, due to the international sanctions which have been imposed on the country's aviation sector, ISNA quoted the managing director of Qeshm Airline Hefzollah Ataherian as saying on Jan. 11.
The main concern of the airlines is the importation of spare parts for airplanes, he said, adding that the sanctions have created serious problems for buying spare parts.
Most of the airlines are indebted and their revenues are not so enough to pay their debts, he said.
Iranian airlines owe 3.6 trillion rials (about $145 million) to the State Airports Company, the Fars News Agency quoted managing director of the State Airports Company, Mahmoud Rasoulinejad, as saying on Jan. 10.
The airlines are not willing to pay their debts. So, we have to act legally to collect a portion of the sum, he added.
Mahan, Iran Air, and Asseman airlines are the biggest debtors, he noted.
In Sept. 2013, Managing Director of Iran Airtour Airline, Sirous Baheri said over 60 percent of Iran's total 220 airplanes are grounded due to technical and logistic issues.
Iranian airlines' air fleet is averagely 22 years old, the ISNA News Agency reported.
"Iranian airlines are facing great losses due to the low price of domestic flights' tickets," Baheri said.
"Iranian airlines are currently having difficulties to compete with the foreign airlines," he added.
"Not having connection with the manufacturers is one of the main problems of the domestic airlines, which has made it difficult for them to repair their airplanes," Baheri stated.
The head of the association of Iranian airlines Abdolreza Mousavi said in May that Iranian airlines are unable to pay off their fuel debts to the Oil Ministry due to their bad financial situation.
"Many airplanes of the national fleet have been grounded due to financial problems," he said, adding that spare parts and components are purchased from second-hand sources with great difficulties.
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