Iran Air blocks flight to Paris over privatization dispute

An Iran Airtour flight set to fly from Tehran to Paris on Friday was canceled due to an objection by state carrier Iran Air over a commercial dispute, a source told Iran International.

The spat blocked what would have been the first flight by an Iranian airline to Europe in nearly three months as sanctions on the country have deepened.

Iran Air's flights to European Union countries were suspended in October last year due to sanctions imposed by the bloc over its involvement in the transfer of Iranian-made UAVs to Russia for use in its war against Ukraine.

Earlier on Thursday, state-affiliated media quoted Iran's Civil Aviation Authority as saying the French government had unexpectedly canceled Iran Airtour's license for flight B9 9770 from Tehran to Paris.

Promised ticket-holders a full refund, the airline blamed the French Civil Aviation Authority for revoking its flight permit without explanation.

The source told Iran International that it was a complaint by the state operator Iran Air that prompted France to cancel permission for the flight.

Iran Airtour and its CEO failed to fulfil commitments during the company’s transfer, the source added, meaning the airline is still considered a subsidiary of Iran Air, the Islamic Republic’s flagship airline.

A review by Iran International found that the privatization process was not complete and there are no legal documents confirming the company’s change into a private-sector entity.

Iran Airtour was established in 1973 by Iran Air and is based in Mashhad in northeast Iran.