Iran enters the design phase of 20-seat passenger aircraft

According to the Sedaye Sama News Agency, Nearly half of Iran’s passenger aircraft fleet is grounded. According to official statistics, as of the first half of 2025 (1404 SH), 211 aircraft operated by 30 domestic airlines are currently active.

During this period, only six new aircraft were added to the fleet — a small number compared to the growing demand for air transport. Given the comprehensive sanctions imposed on Iran’s aviation industry, the design and production of indigenous aircraft have been placed on the national agenda.

The first tangible result of this plan was the launch of test flights for the “Simorgh” transport aircraft, as announced recently by the head of Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization.

In line with meeting domestic needs, Hossein Pourfarzaneh, head of the Civil Aviation Organization, announced that Iranian technical teams have entered the design phase of two types of light passenger aircraft. He stated:
“Following the success of the Simorgh cargo aircraft, Iran’s aviation industry is now ready to move into the production phase of regional passenger aircraft to connect the country’s small airports.”

He emphasized that under Iran’s Seventh Development Plan, the development of propulsion industries plays a key role, with the aviation sector advancing in two main directions: expanding air transport and developing indigenous aircraft production. He described the “Simorgh” project as a symbol of Iranian engineers’ technical capability in the aerospace field.

The Deputy Minister of Roads and Urban Development added that, given Iran’s vast geography and numerous small airports, there is a serious need for 20-seat short-range passenger aircraft to connect smaller cities to the main air network.

Pourfarzaneh stressed that Iran’s aviation industry is one of the country’s oldest sectors and possesses strong scientific and technical foundations that make domestic aircraft manufacturing achievable. He concluded,

“All we need is a firm national will to support local experts, so the path toward developing Iran’s aviation industry becomes smooth and sustainable.”