WANA (Apr 20) – The Secretary of the Association of Iranian Airlines has dismissed rumors of widespread destruction to the nation’s aviation sector, confirming that 95% of airport infrastructure remains fully operational.

 

Maghsoud Asadi Samani refuted claims that 40 to 60 aircraft were damaged in recent events, labeling such reports as “incorrect.”

 

Realistic Assessment of Fleet Damage

According to Samani, realistic estimates indicate that a maximum of approximately 20 aircraft sustained serious damage. Providing a breakdown of the current state of the national fleet, he noted:

 

Total Fleet: Estimated between 250 and 300 aircraft.

 

Pre-incident Status: Approximately 150 aircraft were active, while the remainder were grounded due to technical issues and lack of spare parts.

 

Current Status: Following recent damages, approximately 130 active aircraft remain available for service.

 

Short-term Capacity and Future Planning

Despite the reduction in the number of active planes, Samani emphasized that there is no immediate shortage of aircraft to meet current demand.

 

He attributed this to a significant drop in tourism and non-essential travel under the present circumstances.

 

However, he issued a call to action for the government, stating that a strategic plan must be implemented within the next six months to repair and modernize the fleet to prevent long-term logistical gaps.

 

Infrastructure Resilience

The official underscored that the core infrastructure of Iran’s airports escaped significant destruction. “The main airport infrastructures of the country have not been destroyed, and 95% of them are healthy and operational,” Samani stated.

 

These remarks follow a previous statement by the Civil Aviation Organization, which also denied inflated figures regarding fleet damage, seeking to stabilize public and industry confidence in the country’s aviation capabilities.