IRAN: Iran Aseman Airlines

Iran Aseman Airlines is an Iranian airlines based in Tehran, Iran, that operates scheduled domestic and international flights.

The airline was established and started operations in 1980.The airline's historic links go back to 1958 to the airline Air Taxi Co., which was rebranded as Pars Air in the 1970s and later Iran Aseman Airlines.

In March 2007, it was owned by Iranian Civil Pension Fund Investment Company and had 298 employees. It has since been privatized.

In July 2016, the CEO of the airline was issued an arrest warrant because of an alleged sum of approximately $37 million in public debts to Iran Airports & Air Navigation Company.

Iran Aseman Airlines operates the following fleet:

Airbus A320-200 - 4
Airbus A340-300 - 1
ATR 72-200 - 2
ATR 72-212A - 2
Boeing 727-200 - 3
Boeing 737-400 - 2
Fokker 100 - 7
Total - 21

In February 2017, it emerged that Aseman Airlines was in talks with an Irish firm to lease 7 Airbus A320neos.

On April 4, 2017, the airline signed a Memorandum of Agreement with Boeing for the purchase of 30 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft with options for another 30 aircraft. If the order is firmed, deliveries will begin in 2022.

Accidents And Incidents
On 4 October 1990, an Iran Aseman Fokker F27 Friendship (registration EP-ANA) overran the runway upon landing at Ramsar Airport, Iran and came to rest at a concrete wall 100 metres behind the runway. There were no fatalities amongst the 46 passengers and 4 crew members on board, and the aircraft was fully repaired.

On 12 October 1994, Iran Aseman Airlines Flight 746, a Fokker F28 Fellowship (registration EP-PAV) en route from Isfahan to Tehran suffered a sudden loss of power in both engines at 23:05 local time, 35 minutes after take-off from Isfahan International Airport. The aircraft spiralled into an uncontrolled descent and crashed near Natanz, killing all 59 passengers and 7 crew members on board.

On 18 July 2000, Iran Aseman Airlines Flight 775, a Fokker F28 Fellowship (registration EP-PAU) en route from Tehran to Ahwaz, was damaged beyond repair when the pilot missed the runway upon a low-visibility landing attempt at Ahwaz Airport and instead touched down next to it. A successful go-around was executed, and there were no injuries amongst the 84 passengers and 4 crew members on board.

On 26 August 2010, a Fokker 100 (registration EP-ASL) operating Iran Aseman Airlines Flight 773 from Tehran to Tabriz overran the runway upon landing at Tabriz International Airport and was substantially damaged when it plunged into a canal. Two out of the 103 passengers on board were injured, while none of the 7 crew members were hurt.

On 10 May 2014, a Fokker 100 (registration EP-ASZ), was damaged in a landing accident at Zahedan Airport (ZAH), Iran. The airplane operated flight 853 from Mashhad Airport (MHD). According to local media the left hand main undercarriage failed to extend or lock prior to landing. A forced landing was carried out on runway 35. The airplane swerved to the left and came to rest 1450 meters (4760 feet) past the runway 35 threshold and 23 meters (75 feet) to the left of the centreline.