No more Iran Air refuelling runs to Belgrade
After several months, Iran Air has terminated flights to Belgrade as its refuelling base for services originating from Western Europe on route to Teheran since last week. Belgrade Airport has been under pressure to stop refuelling Iran Air aircraft. The United States recently issued an advisory to all airports in Europe to stop refuelling all Iran Air jets. Nikola Tesla Airport has been refuelling several Iran Air flights since March 2011 because most companies at European airports have refused to sell fuel to the Iranian flag carrier. Similarly, the airline made refuelling stops in the Hungarian capital Budapest as well. No Iran Air passengers were allowed to enter or leave the aircraft while refuelling in Belgrade. The airport made a significant profit out of its arrangement with the Iranian flag carrier.Yesterday, the United States imposed economic sanctions on Iran Air, saying that the national carrier supported the Iranian military. In a statement, the US 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. Revolutionary Guard officers are said to occasionally take control of Iran Air flights with special cargo. Iran Air has faced US sanctions since 1995, preventing it from buying aircraft or spare parts from Boeing or Airbus.
Thus, after 3 months, frequent Iran Air Airbus A300 visitors are no more at Belgrade Airport.
Iran Air used A310-300 to Belgrade as well, not only the A300-600.
ReplyDeleteOn a side note, will they be discontinuing the stop in Budapest? If they will keep on landing there then it means that we are stupid for revoking their landing rights.
Shame that we gave in to Western pressure. Afterall business is business not to mention that Belgrade airport has seen much more profit from the Iranians than from the Americans so...
Belgrade Airport did it under pressure of CAD and Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Iran Air thus continued services to FRA, MXP, VIE, CGN, MSE, GVA...
ReplyDeleteIran Air have not been landing at BUD, but at Manston,Wales, then at Minsk and Kiev. Also Iran Air flies from VIE to IKA directly, and from MXP occasionally directly.
ReplyDeleteIran Air should fly via BEG, as normal flight, so than they can fuel it in BEG an fly further.
ReplyDeleteThere would be passangers from Sandzak, Kosovo, Albania and Bosnia, that they would like to fly to Teheran.
@Last Anonymous
ReplyDeleteWhat, just because they're Muslims doesn't mean they will travel to Iran are you that childish? Why doesn't TAM or Varig flight to Belgrade from Sao Paulo then? Serbians and Brazilians are both Christians.... Stupid thing to mention.
Also Shiite and Sunni don't really mix well.
These are just diplomatic games here, Serbia doesn't really want to go against the U.S.
@ last annonymous
ReplyDeleteWhy wouldn't people from Belgrade, Nis, Novi Sad and other parts of Serbia like to fly to Tehran? Why did you only mention Sandzak and Kosovo? What links these two regions in Serbia to Iran, other than religion? Very biased comment! I'm from Belgrade and I would like to visit Tehran AGAIN, considering I have already been.
@ last annonymous
ReplyDeleteWhy wouldn't people from Belgrade, Nis, Novi Sad and other parts of Serbia like to fly to Tehran? Why did you only mention Sandzak and Kosovo? What links these two regions in Serbia to Iran, other than religion? Very biased comment! I'm from Belgrade and I would like to visit Tehran AGAIN, considering I have already been.
For sure you and other 52 potential passanger want to fly nex year to Teheran. For that I thing it would be best to open at least 2 freuqencies per day!
ReplyDeleteI really don't understand much about politics, but I sincerely don't understand why we accept to be told what to do.
ReplyDeleteWe were not in this deal for any politics but simply for the money. Will the US somehow financially compensate Belgrade Airport for their loss?
They landed in BUD for fuel stops only for like a week and that was months ago.
ReplyDeleteBelgrade flights could be operated via ATH with A320 a few times per week if Iran Air wanted to serve the Balkans.
ReplyDeleteOT:
ReplyDeleteBeside JAT Tehnika, are there other Maintenace Organisations handling Airbus, Boeing, Embraer...
in BEG?
Greetings from Basel
Anonymous,
ReplyDeleteAs far as I know Jat Tehnika is the only one in Belgrade.
Wizz Air can not service their aircraft with Jat Tehnika since they can only do Boeings and Atrs.
Shame. Real shame. I know that this isn`t decision of Belgrade airport management but of pro US government of Serbia, that is licking ass to US and EU. Because of their interests, Belgrade airport now lost income of 100000 euros per day, for the basic of three flights per day. And it was arranged to be more flights during summer. Well done Tadic, hope you are satisfied.
ReplyDelete