Iran Air
Iran · IRANAIR · Active
Airline Identity
History
Iran Air's origins go back to Iranian Airways, founded in 1944; the modern carrier was formed in February 1961 through the merger of Iranian Airways and Persian Air Services and became Iran's national flag carrier (Homa). It grew into a significant long-haul operator, launching nonstop Tehran–New York service in 1971, and is also remembered for the tragedy of Iran Air Flight 655, shot down over the Persian Gulf in 1988 with the loss of 290 lives. Decades of US-led sanctions severely restricted its ability to buy new Western-built aircraft and spare parts, a squeeze that briefly eased after the 2015 JCPOA nuclear deal before sanctions were reimposed.
Current Operations
Iran Air today operates a small and aging fleet — reportedly around 30 aircraft, dominated by older Airbus and ATR types plus a handful of legacy widebodies — reflecting years of restricted access to Western manufacturers, financing, and spare parts under US and, more recently, EU sanctions. Its network is centered on Tehran, split between Imam Khomeini International Airport for international services and Mehrabad for domestic flights, though EU flight bans imposed in late 2024 and subsequent sanctions have curtailed its European operations and it now leans on domestic and regional Asian/Middle Eastern routes. As of 2026 the airline remains state-owned under Iran's Ministry of Roads and Urban Development, and its fleet situation continues to be shaped by an unsettled sanctions and regional-security environment; specific fleet and route figures should be treated as fluid.
Last verified 2026-09-02· Source: airline public disclosures, company press releases & aviation-industry reporting.