IranAir to resume B747 Combi operations after repairs

IranAir announced plans to bring its only Boeing 747 Combi aircraft back into service in just over a month, according to a statement from CEO Taher Abdolhai at a press conference on October 19, 2026, reported by ch-aviation.com.

The aircraft, a 38-year-old B747-200CM registered EP-ICD, has been grounded for repairs due to reaching 20,000 flight cycles and requires about one and a half to two months for necessary maintenance before resuming operations, the CEO said.

IranAir faces significant operational challenges including fleet limitations, accumulated debts, and a reduction in international routes, largely attributed to US sanctions that have affected the entire aviation sector in Iran, Abdolhai noted.

The airline currently operates only six active aircraft and the return of grounded planes depends on acquiring parts, financial resources, and meeting safety requirements, according to the official Telegram channel statement.

The EP-ICD aircraft has been subject to US sanctions since 2018 and was also listed under export restrictions related to Russia flights in 2022. It was last active in late September on the Tehran-Tianjin route.

Additionally, the CEO revealed that 30 to 40 operational aircraft in Iran were destroyed during the war, with another 70 to 80 damaged, highlighting the difficult conditions facing Iran's civil aviation sector.