UAE and Iran sign agreement to operate flights

Dubai: The United Arab Emirates General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Civil Aviation Organization of Islamic Republic of Iran (Caoiri) to regulate and operate flights between the countries.

The MoU was signed by Saif Mohammad Al Suwaidi, Director General of GCAA and Hussain Khanlari, Vice-Minister of Roads and Transportation and President of Caoiri.

The two bodies agreed to designate Emirates airline, Etihad Airways, Air Arabia, RAK Airways and Fly Dubai as the national carriers from the UAE and Iran Air, Mahan Airlines, Asseman Airlines, Caspian Airlines, Kish Airlines and Taban Air as national carriers from Iran.

Under the agreement, Etihad Airways will operate 43 weekly flights between Abu Dhabi and five major Iranian cities, Emirates and Fly Dubai will jointly operate 84 weekly flights between Dubai and Iranian cities, Air Arabia will have 49 weekly flights from Sharjah to Iranian cities while RAK Airways will operate 39 weekly flights between Ras Al Khaimah and Iranian cities.

The flights are between the UAE cities of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah and five major Iranian cities: Tehran, Shiraz, Mashhad, Esfahan, Kish and Bandar Abbas.

Cargo services will be operated between the two countries without restrictions.