A controversial deal allowing Iran Air to refuel at Manston airport will come to an end, the Isle of Thanet Gazette can reveal. Airport boss Charles Buchanan said the company would not be using the airport any more, but said this had nothing to do with recent publicity over the arrangement.
Charles Buchanan, Iran Air 
The Iran Air Fuel Fiasco has been an international PR disaster for the airport. As Maxim PR (the airport's own PR company) says on its website: "You can tell a lot about a person by the company they keep".
One consequence of this shambles is that all Manston's customers will be watched more closely in future, which may not please all of them.
Charles Buchanan's comments in this BBC article make it clear that it is the airport's desperation for money that led them into this geo-political minefield, and that they're giving up this revenue stream very reluctantly. Incidentally, this story makes a lot more sense if you replace the word "ethics" with the phrase "public relations"...
Charles Buchanan, Iran Air 
In the glare of the floodlights at a remote Home Counties airfield the crew of an Iran Air passenger jet set about a discreet spot of sanctions busting. The bizarre sight of the Tehran-bound plane has become a regular event as it refuels at one of the UK’s smallest airports so the scheduled flight can return to Iran.
Bob Bayford, Cargolux, Charles Buchanan, Iran Air, Ramsgate Manston, Night flights, TDC 
Many of you have been wondering why the state airline of a pariah nation regularly visits a failing airport in the corner of England.
A while ago, I was told that Iran Air come to Manston to refuel, which struck me as a "reasonable reason" but a woefully inadequate explanation. Things are now becoming clearer...
Cargolux, Iran Air, Kam Air, MK Airlines, Safety Yet another one of our eagle-eyed readers has raised an important and interesting question:
HAS ANY ONE NOTICED THAT THERE ARE AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK FLIGHTS TO MANSTON BY IRAN AIR? I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW WHAT THEY ARE CARRYING TO THE U.K.
You can tell it's important, because it's all in CAPITALS.
And it's interesting because not many Iran Air planes are even allowed to fly anywhere near Europe... Here's what our beloved Foreign & Commonwealth Office have to say:
Safety and Security - Local Travel - Air Travel
The state carrier, Iran Air, has been refused permission to operate services to the EU with the exception of 14 aircraft of type A300, eight aircraft of type A310 and one aircraft of type B737. This restriction has been put in place because Iran Air has been unable to demonstrate that a number of aircraft in its fleet (including those of type A320, Boeing 727, B747-100, B747-200 and B747-SP) meet international safety standards.
Manston 
The US has imposed economic sanctions on Iran's national airline, saying Iran Air had supported the Iranian military.
In a statement, the treasury department also said the airline had provided "material support and services" to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. It said the paramilitary group supported terrorism and committed human rights abuses against protesters.
The US accuses Iran of aiming to develop nuclear weapons. Tehran says its programme is wholly peaceful. In addition, the US treasury department accused Iranian port company Tidewater Middle East Company of the Revolutionary Guard Corp of exporting arms and military equipment from the seven ports it operates in the country.
"Preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons is a top US government priority and we remain deeply concerned about Iran's nuclear intentions," US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner said in a joint statement. "The United States is committed to a dual-track policy of applying pressure in pursuit of constructive engagement, and a negotiated solution."
Iran Air has faced US sanctions since 1995, preventing it from buying aircraft or spare parts from Boeing or Airbus. Last year, the European Commission banned Iran Air jets from European air space, citing safety concerns.
The new sanctions mean no US company will be able to do business with Iran Air or Tidewater, and if the companies hold any assets in the US, those will now be frozen.
"The US and our partners remain fully committed to a diplomatic solution with Iran," Mrs Clinton and Mr Geithner said. "However, until Iran is prepared to engage seriously with us on such a solution, we will continue to increase pressure against Iranian entities of concern."
BBC 23rd Jun 2011
Iran Air 
Most of Iran Air's jets will be banned from flying to the EU because of safety concerns, the European Commission says.
The ban affects Airbus A320, Boeing 727 and 747 jets - two-thirds of Iran Air's fleet. The Commission said the ban was on safety grounds, and was not related to sanctions imposed on Iran because of its nuclear programme.
Iran has denied a claim that its planes are being prevented from refuelling at some foreign airports. Earlier an Iranian aviation official had accused the UK, Germany and the United Arab Emirates of refusing to supply fuel for Iranian airliners. But a foreign ministry spokesman said on Tuesday that "no such limitation has been imposed". And the UK, Germany and UAE all denied the claim.
Last week the US approved new sanctions on Iran over its nuclear programme. Tehran says its nuclear industry is for peaceful purposes, but Western powers fear it is trying to develop a bomb.
A US ban on spare parts for Iranian jets has hit Iran Air's maintenance operation, the Associated Press news agency reports.
BBC 6th Jul 2010
Iran Air 
