Iran Air takes legal action to restore its flight routes: CEO

The CEO of Iran Air says the national airline has taken legal action to restore international flight routes it has been banned from because of foreign sanctions on the company.

Hossein Khanlari said on Saturday that Iran Air has used the services of the legal offices of the Iranian transportation ministry and the Iranian Presidency to be represented in international courts for actions that could lead to the resumption of flights to major foreign destinations.

Khanlari said the actions are meant to remove barriers preventing Iran Air from offering services to passengers, especially when it comes to their health needs.

Iran Air and two other Iranian airlines were banned from flying to major cities in Europe and Britain in October 2024 after the companies were accused of helping Iran’s alleged supply of weapons to Russia for the war in Ukraine.

Iranian authorities have repeatedly rejected the accusations, saying they are part of efforts to force Iran into political and military concessions.

The European and British bans on Iran Air flights have caused many passengers to lose access to medical services outside of the country. Khanlari’s remarks indicated the company has based its legal action on those issues.

Iranians living in European countries and in Britain signed a petition in November 2024, saying the bans had negatively affected more than a million passengers.

The petition said that the bans would cause major hardship to the elderly and those with disabilities.

Iran Air used to fly to seven destinations in European countries, namely Rome, Milan, Vienna, Hamburg, Cologne, Frankfurt, and Paris, as well as to the British capital of London, before the sanctions were announced.

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