Air India Express (IX, Delhi International) will postpone its plan to commence flights to Tehran Imam Khomeini blaming uncertainty under Trump's administration, reports the Press Trust of India, citing a 'highly placed' source.
The low cost subsidiary of Air India (AI, Delhi International) had considered launching 3x weekly direct flights from Delhi International to the Iranian capital after sanctions were relaxed in late 2016. However, Donald Trump's administration has already begun imposing new economic sanctions, with thirteen individuals and twelve entities added to the Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list.
Air India Express' fleet of twenty-three B737-800s is primarily funded by the Export–Import Bank of the United States – the export credit agency of the US – so the carrier must comply with US sanctions. At this stage, it is unclear how much further Trump's anti-Iran stance will go. Amid this uncertainty, Air India Express has put its Iran plans on hold.
