Iran to launch production line of 100-seat passenger plane

The head of Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization has announced plans to launch the production line of a 100-seat passenger plane and use IrAn-140 aircraft as a cargo jet.

Speaking to Tasnim news agency on Friday, Touraj Dehghani Zanganeh hailed achievements made by Iranian knowledge-based companies in repairing and supplying aircraft parts.

“We are expanding the aircraft manufacturing program in the country, according to which IrAn-140 plane will be used as a cargo aircraft. It will be used in military units,” he said.

“In addition, we are working on launching the production line of a 100-passenger passenger plane.”

The IrAn-140 is a locally built variant of the Antonov An-140. It is assembled under license by Iran Aircraft Manufacturing Industrial Company (HESA) in Isfahan.

Iran has in recent years made great strides in developing its civil aviation sector in defiance of the sanctions that have sought to restrict the country’s access to the sophisticated foreign technology. It has already been among the leading states in manufacturing military planes.