Iran Air

Description:

In 1926, almost 22 years after Wright Brothers made their maiden flight, a bill was passed by then government of Iran under which the exclusive rights of the air transportation in Iran was totally granted to a German company called "Junkers". Junkers entered into a five-year contract with concerned Iranian authorities through which the company agreed to abide with the desire of the government to fly on Tehran/Bandar-e-Anzali, Tehran/Bushehr, and Tehran/Gharanour (a point in Azerbaijan) routes. Accordingly Junkers was made to establish a technical training centre and to provide every and all facilities, including training type of aircraft for pilot training purposes. In any case, Junkers operations in Iran did not last long and the government, on its own initiative, established an airline company. Utilising the services of air force officers and pilots, and using the German type of aircraft called "Dragon Rapids", the airline company started to operate domestic as well as regional flights to neighbouring countries carrying passenger, cargo, and mail. However, with the outbreak of Second World War, the company was disorganised and dissolved in the process of time. This small, but historical mishap was, in fact, the turning point and a stepping stone of commercial air transportation in Iran. Thus, travel trade of the country was placed totally under a spotlight by international airlines that went on to survey the requirements of the area. In 1929, Imperial Airways, the name of which later changed to B.O.A.C. and recently to British Airways, became the first international airline to start servicing to Iran. On its way flying from London to the Far East, it made stops in Bushehr and Bandar-e-Lengeh, manoeuvring undisputedly to capture the whole market of the country. KLM-Royal Dutch Airlines- flying from Amsterdam to Jakarta was the second airline set out towards Iran and made step-over in Bushehr, enjoying the air market of the country and transporting all passengers to South east Asia and to Europe on its return flight. In 1946, After the Second World War, Iranian Airways was founded by private sector, operating primarily with just a few small aircraft to carry passenger, cargo, and mail. Later when it took possession of 17 aircraft, remnant of World War II, its potential in commercial air transportation relatively raised to a high degree. It was of course a praise-worthy achievement of French and Iranian engineers, who started gradually remodelling and reconfiguring these military aircraft into passengersΥ planes. Thus Iranian Airways, the name of which, in international aviation circle, was changed to "Iran Air", started its scheduled flight, initially flying from Tehran to Mashahd. The company also succeeded to carry over 11,000 passengers in 1946 which was quite an eye catching achievement compared with other world airlines during the short period after the World War II. It was of course a praise-worthy achievement of French and Iranian engineers, who started gradually remodelling and reconfiguring these military aircraft into passengersΥ planes. Thus Iranian Airways, the name of which, in international aviation circle, was changed to "Iran Air", started its scheduled flight, initially flying from Tehran to Mashahd. Thus Iranian Airways, the name of which, in international aviation circle, was changed to "Iran Air", started its scheduled flight, initially flying from Tehran to Mashahd. In 1953 parallel to successful operations of Iranian Airways, the rich and the Royal Circle who were in very affluent circumstances, realising the importance of private investment, particularly in Air Line business, determined to set up another air carrier called "Persian Air Services" to carry cargo mainly on domestic routes. However, three years later, transportation of passengers between some Iranian major cities and points in neighbouring countries was added to its operations. Both Iranian Airways and Persian Air Services introduced their Haj Pilgrim operation in 1955 and four years later the government purchased three Viscount aircraft and put them at their disposal to add to their fleet. Finally on 16th February 1958 Iranian Airways ceremoniously inaugurated its weekly European Services to Frankfurt via Ankara by a four engine aircraft called "Sky Master", leaving Tehran at 0100 on Sundays arriving Frankfurt at 1415.