Newly acquired A343 to serve as Iran Government VIP aircraft

Newly acquired Meraj Airlines A340-313, reg. EP-AJA (cn 257) as photographed by "shahram16216" at Instagram on 18SEP15 at Tehran - Mehrabad International Airport (THR).

According to CH-Aviation:

Meraj Air (JI, Tehran Mehrabad) has taken delivery of its maiden A340-300, ex-AirBlue (PA, Karachi Int'l) machine EP-AJA (cn 257), that was originally reported as being destined for Asian Express Airline (Tajikistan) (KV, Dushanbe). Originally listed as heading for Singapore Changi, the quadjet was seen arriving at Tehran Mehrabad on Tuesday, September 15.

Reports out of Iran indicate the aircraft has already been reconfigured for VIP operations for the Iranian government and is sporting "Islamic Republic of Iran" titles.

COMMENTARY: First flight for this aircraft was Jan. 1999, making its age 16.9 years. Even so, this four-engine jetliner represents a more suitable VIP aircraft than far older Boeing 707-3J9C aircraft serving IRIG. It's also the first four-engine jetliner delivery to Iran since the signing of JCPOA. Successful implementation of the nuclear agreement accords Iran access to aviation purchases and deliveries previously barred by sanctions.

Meraj Airlines A340-313, reg. EP-AJA in partially applied IRIG livery; photographed by Mehrad Watson during 15SEP15 delivery flight to THR.

Operator history for EP-AJA (click table to enlarge):

Mahan Air EP-MMR operating flights to Milan and Shanghai

Mahan Air EP-MMR on 25JUL15 at Milan–Malpensa Airport
[photo: Gustavo Petullo]

Mahan Air Airbus A340-642, reg. EP-MMR (cn 416) has recently been operating flights to Milan–Malpensa Airport (MXP) and Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG).

EP-MMR is one of nine Airbus aircraft recently obtained by Mahan Air with Iraqi assistance, circumventing U.S. sanctions in effect against the airline for assisting IRGC-QF in support of Lebanese Hezbollah and the Syrian Arab Republic, as well as MODAFL and IAIO. With the signing of JCPOA, U.S. sanctions against these recently obtained Mahan Air aircraft appear  effectively suspended.

Mahan Air Airbus A340-311, reg. EP-MMB (cn 056) on 17JUN15 at at Milan–Malpensa Airport (see below)

[photo: Simone Previdi]

According to AnnaAero:

Mahan Air... started twice-weekly (Wednesdays and Saturdays) flights from its Tehran Imam Khomeini (IKA) hub to Milan Malpensa (MXP) on 17 June – its 54th global destination. Although the inaugural service was operated by one of the carrier’s A340s, the service is intended to be flown by its A310 fleet. Iran Air will provide the only direct competition on the 3,711-kilometre airport pair, also flying twice-weekly on the route. The sector becomes Mahan Air’s seventh into Europe, and closely follows the start of services to Munich earlier this summer.

Attractive Mahan Air flight crew members at Milan–Malpensa Airport

[photo: AnnaAero]

Imagery of U.S.-sanctioned Mahan Air A346, reg. EP-MMG

New amateur imagery posted this week at MyAviation.ir of U.S.-sanctioned Mahan Mahan Air Airbus A340-642, reg. EP-MMG (cn 383) at Tehran - Mehrabad International Airport (THR). First open-source photo available of aircraft in Mahan Air livery:

Undated photograph by Majid Khodaei depicts aircraft situated near Pars Aviation Service Company MRO facility at THR. In the background are seen IRGC-related Ilyushin Il-76TD "Candid" strategic airlifters and Antonov An-74TK-200 "Coaler" transport aircraft. Ilyushin at far left with green vertical stabilizer retains Yas Air paint scheme; airline sanctioned for similar reasons as EP-MMG.

EP-MMG obtained with Iraqi assistance; ferried 08May15 from Baghdad International Airport (BGW) to Tehran - Mehrabad International Airport (THR).

U.S. Treasury department on 21MAY15 stated  Mahan Air had a "blockable interest" in this plane, meaning it could be subject to an asset freeze, raising the possibility that Washington may attempt to have it seized at airports outside Iran. Iran's aviation authority stated on 08JUN15 the country would take legal action if Washington tries to stop newly acquired Iranian passenger planes flying international routes.

Should this follow the example of EP-MMH and EP-MMR, aircraft expected to commence flying international routes from Tehran - Imam Khomeini Airport (IKA).

Iran-Based Airline Purchases Airbus A340s

Iran-based airline Mahan Air has purchased 8 Airbus A340-600s from Virgin Atlantic. The eight four-engine, wide-body jets arrived at Mehrabad Airport in Tehran last night. The A340-600 seats more than 320 passengers in three-cabin configuration and has a range of 13,700 km (8,513 miles). The arrival of the Virgin’s A340s, believed to be less than ten years old, adds newer modern aircraft to the country’s aging civil aviation fleet and is a welcome sign for travelers to and from Iran. Mahan Air also purchased an Airbus A321 as part of the transaction.

File photo: A Virgin Atlantic Airbus A340-600 at JFK airport (reddit.com)
 

President Rouhani's trip to NYC aboard IRIG A340 - correction

President Rouhani boards Airbus A340-300 series aircraft 22SEP14 at THR / OIII, bound for JFK / KJFK to attend 69th annual session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Aircraft appears to be Iran Aseman A340-311, reg. EP-APA (cn 002) in new IRIG livery.

Aircraft is Islamic Republic of Iran (Mahan Air) Airbus A340-313, reg. EP-MMC (cn 282). See below:

Photos: Mahmoud Hosseini at Tasnim News Agency and Shahram Sharifi

Updated livery for Iran Aseman A340

Updated livery for Iran Aseman Airline's flagship A340-311, reg: EP-APA (cn 002), landing at Stockholm - Arlanda (ARN / ESSA) on Dec. 29, 2013. Photo by Oscar Wistrand.

 

Iran Aseman EP-APA previously seen last Fall receiving attention at the airline's maintenance hangar facility at Isfahan Shahid Beheshti International Airport (IFN / OIFM). Photo by Azin Haghini at FARS News Agency.