Tehran, Nov 9, IRNA – Minister of Roads and Urban Development Abbas Akhoundi announced that Iran needs $50 billion to develop its aviation industry and purchase a total of 500 passenger planes.

“We currently have 250 airplanes; only 150 of them are operational and 100 others are out of order,” Akhoundi said while visiting the pavilion of the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) at Press and News Agencies Exhibition.

He underlined that Iran’s air fleet lacks 400 mid-range planes and 100 short-range airplanes.

Akhoundi said that Iran has held talks with many first-grade suppliers to help people benefit from new planes after the removal of sanctions.

The minister said that the country’s airports need renovation because they transfer over 50 million passengers per year.

By IRNA