Iran carrier hikes fares on international flights

TEHRAN – The Associated Press

REUTERS Photo

Iranian national carrier has nearly doubled prices on plane tickets for some foreign destinations, feeling the pinch of international sanctions.

Spokesman of Iran Air, Shahrokh Noooshabadi, says the up to 90 percent price hike is the result of the state oil company’s increase in fuel prices for airlines and also the plunging value of the rial against foreign currencies.

Iran Air’s 54 aircraft fly to destinations in Europe, including London, Paris and Amsterdam.

Iranian media say other airline companies have also hiked flight prices on routes abroad. This follows a 70 percent jump in prices on domestic flights earlier in November.

Iran is under stepped-up Western sanctions on its oil and banking system over the country’s suspect nuclear program. Tehran denies it’s trying to make a nuclear weapon.