Iran Air CEO Reports 30 Aircraft Destroyed in War
Iran Air CEO Taher Abdolhai announced that war with the United States and Israel destroyed up to 30 aircraft and severely depleted aviation capacity.
Taher Abdolhai, CEO of the state-owned flag carrier Iran Air, announced Monday that between 20 and 30 aircraft were destroyed during Iran's war with the United States and Israel. Abdolhai stated that 70 to 80 aircraft were targeted during the conflict, noting that Israeli attacks caused particularly severe damage to the fleet, including the complete destruction of one aircraft.
Abdolhai reported a critical shortage in aviation capacity, noting that Iran possesses only 300 passenger aircraft despite a need for approximately 1,000. He attributed the decline of the airline to both recent war damage and long-term international sanctions, specifically the 2018 U.S. withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal. These restrictions have blocked access to international financing, spare parts, and new aircraft purchases from Boeing and Airbus.
During the news conference, Abdolhai opposed the privatization of Iran Air, arguing that the carrier serves strategic national interests.
