31 May 2011
Iran's airports earned 3.1 trillion rials ($310 million) in the Iranian year which ended March 20, announced managing director of Iran Airports Company.
Speaking in a press conference, Mohsen Esmaeli said that about 1.1 trillion rials ($110 million) of this amount came from services provided to transit and domestic flights as well as navigation and terminal transportation facilities for passengers, IRNA reported.
The official said investments to the tune of 2.3 trillion rials ($230 billion) have been made in the country's airports since the first exhibition of airport industries was held, adding the total of 27 trillion rials ($2.7 million) are expected to be absorbed by the airports in near future.
Esmaeili put the number of passengers using Mehrabad Airport, the oldest and busiest in the country, at 12 million to 14 million annually.
He noted that about 600 billion rials ($60 million) were allocated to building airplane parking lots and runways in the airport, adding the executive operations of the projects will start during Government Week. (Aug 23-29).
"About 400 billion rials ($40 million) were made available for setting up multi-storey car parks and other buildings in Mehrabad Airport" he said.
Tehran Metro officials, he said, have pledged to extend a metro line to Mehrabad Airport. He hoped the project will become operational by the end of the current Iranian year.
Esmaeili pointed out that only three out of 54 airports operational in the country are making profits including Tehran's Imam Khomeini and Mehrabad airports and Mashhad's Shahid Hasheminejad airport.
He noted that the Second Special Exhibition on Aviation, Airport Industry & Investment Opportunities will be held from June 11-13 in Tehran's Olympic Hotel.
"Some 31 companies involved in aviation industries, 20 airports, five sponsor firms and eight airline companies will take part in the expo," he stated.
The official termed the objectives of holding the exhibition as introducing strategies and programs drawn up by Iran Airports Company, promoting the culture of investment, supporting the involvement of private and cooperative sectors in airports and aviation projects and reviewing the problems and obstacles faced by the sector.
Esmaeili added that 159 investment opportunities of 27 airports, costing 5.6 trillion rials ($560 million) would be introduced to domestic and foreign investors during the exhibition.
He noted that investment opportunities to the tune of 21 trillion rials ($2.1 billion) have been identified in Imam Khomeini International Airport, adding three foreign investors have expressed readiness to invest in the airport.
He said that the number of passengers using the airports since the beginning of the current Iranian year has increased by 10 percent compared to the figure for the same period last year.
Participation bonds are expected to be issued to encourage the public to contribute to airports projects, he noted.
Esmaeili announced earlier that one trillion rials ($100 million) will be available for expanding the passenger terminals and communication facilities of airports.
He added that expansion of airports is on the government's agenda, noting the government has funded the development project for Ramsar Airport in the Caspian province of Mazandaran.
He explained that about 400 million rials ($40 million) have been allocated for the expansion of Ramsar Airport in the current year to March 2012.
Iran's airports earned 3.1 trillion rials ($310 million) in the Iranian year which ended March 20, announced managing director of Iran Airports Company.
Speaking in a press conference, Mohsen Esmaeli said that about 1.1 trillion rials ($110 million) of this amount came from services provided to transit and domestic flights as well as navigation and terminal transportation facilities for passengers, IRNA reported.
The official said investments to the tune of 2.3 trillion rials ($230 billion) have been made in the country's airports since the first exhibition of airport industries was held, adding the total of 27 trillion rials ($2.7 million) are expected to be absorbed by the airports in near future.
Esmaeili put the number of passengers using Mehrabad Airport, the oldest and busiest in the country, at 12 million to 14 million annually.
He noted that about 600 billion rials ($60 million) were allocated to building airplane parking lots and runways in the airport, adding the executive operations of the projects will start during Government Week. (Aug 23-29).
"About 400 billion rials ($40 million) were made available for setting up multi-storey car parks and other buildings in Mehrabad Airport" he said.
Tehran Metro officials, he said, have pledged to extend a metro line to Mehrabad Airport. He hoped the project will become operational by the end of the current Iranian year.
Esmaeili pointed out that only three out of 54 airports operational in the country are making profits including Tehran's Imam Khomeini and Mehrabad airports and Mashhad's Shahid Hasheminejad airport.
He noted that the Second Special Exhibition on Aviation, Airport Industry & Investment Opportunities will be held from June 11-13 in Tehran's Olympic Hotel.
"Some 31 companies involved in aviation industries, 20 airports, five sponsor firms and eight airline companies will take part in the expo," he stated.
The official termed the objectives of holding the exhibition as introducing strategies and programs drawn up by Iran Airports Company, promoting the culture of investment, supporting the involvement of private and cooperative sectors in airports and aviation projects and reviewing the problems and obstacles faced by the sector.
Esmaeili added that 159 investment opportunities of 27 airports, costing 5.6 trillion rials ($560 million) would be introduced to domestic and foreign investors during the exhibition.
He noted that investment opportunities to the tune of 21 trillion rials ($2.1 billion) have been identified in Imam Khomeini International Airport, adding three foreign investors have expressed readiness to invest in the airport.
He said that the number of passengers using the airports since the beginning of the current Iranian year has increased by 10 percent compared to the figure for the same period last year.
Participation bonds are expected to be issued to encourage the public to contribute to airports projects, he noted.
Esmaeili announced earlier that one trillion rials ($100 million) will be available for expanding the passenger terminals and communication facilities of airports.
He added that expansion of airports is on the government's agenda, noting the government has funded the development project for Ramsar Airport in the Caspian province of Mazandaran.
He explained that about 400 million rials ($40 million) have been allocated for the expansion of Ramsar Airport in the current year to March 2012.
© Iran Daily 2011
