Iranian air link takes off

Sep 2 2005 By Edward Stephens, Evening Mail

AN Iranian airline has set up its UK headquarters in Birmingham after the success of its service linking the city with Teheran.

Mahan Air had expected to make a loss for the first two years of its operation from the Midlands but is already making a profit after just 14 months.

Because of the success of the Birmingham operation it plans to operate a service from Manchester from December and is looking at other UK cities.

The airline's director of international relations, Hossein Hosseine, said: "Birmingham has been very supportive of our operation so we decided to set up our UK headquarters here.

"The local community, the airport and the local authority have given us a lot of backing.

"We are soon to start our on-line service and expect to see a real boost in passenger numbers resulting from that.

"Traditionally an airline would expect to make a loss for the first two years with a new operation but in Birmingham we are making a profit after just over a year."

He was speaking at the official opening the airline's new offices on Hagley Road.

Among the 50 guests present at the official opening party was the Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Coun John Hood, members of the Iranian Embassy and senior airline officials and management from Birmingham International Airport.

The airline flies to Tehran from Birmingham twice a week.