Iran Air decides to stop Tehran-ToKyo direct flight

Tokyo, Sept 20, IRNA Iran's state airline, Iran Air, has reportedly decided to stop its
direct flights to Japan after 33 years due to heavy loses, an Air Air
official said on Friday.

Head of Iran Air regional office for Japan and South Korea, Saeed
Qaderi, made the remarks speaking to IRNA in Tokyo on the sidelines of
an international tourism exhibition held by Japan Association of
Travel Agents (Jata). The Jata World Travel Fair is underway in the
Japanese capital September 19-21.

Qaderi said that Iran Air's officials have made the decision based on
different factors which led to inflicting heavy loses to Iran's state
airline.

The official referred to the increasing high costs of fuel, existence
of some restrictions on granting visa to Iranian nationals and limits
facing the Iranian air fleet as major reasons behind the decision.

Qaderi added that Iran Air would have no direct flight to Tokyo as of
October 26, 2008.

Since 1974, Iran Air is making two direct flights to Tokyo with Boeing
SP-747s. It is is one the oldest routes of the airline.

However, Qaderi suggested that the halt might damage Iran's tourism
industry since it would influence the large number of Japanese
tourists who visit Iran each year.