Saeid Akbari said that Islamic Republic of Iran was well-prepared to host such large number of air traffic. He attributed the increase in the number of flights over Iran to Malaysia-bound plane crash in over Ukraine and closing of the country’s airspace to incoming flights, and restrictions on flights over Iraq as contributing to such unprecedented number of flights passing over Iran. “These factors led airlines to seek routes in Iran’s sky, which almost doubled this number,” he added.
“In response to requests made by International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to permit planes fly over Iran, the country’s National Civil Aviation Organization announced it was prepared to host the flights,” asserted Akbari, and that “to secure the flights and to regulate air traffic, we opened new air routes to incoming flights in close cooperation with Iran’s Airports Organization, the Armed Force Air Defense, and coordination with neighboring countries, thus increasing the already 480 flights to 880 flights per day.”
Akbari held that the record indicated Iran’s highly secure airspace. “Iran’s privileged position in aeronautics, natural geography, the area, facilities, expert navigation staff and security also attracted the requests for flights over Iran,” he added.
He expressed gratitude to all organizations involved especially country’s Airport Organizations and Armed Forces and air traffic control center for their attempt to increase flight capacity of airspace. “The flights would bring income for the country,” he believed.
SH/HRGH
MNA
END