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In any case, Junkers operations in Iran did not last long and the
government, on its own initiative, established an airline company.
Utilising the services of air force officers and pilots, and using
the German type of aircraft called "Dragon Rapids", the airline company
started to operate domestic as well as regional flights to neighbouring
countries carrying passenger, cargo, and mail. However, with the outbreak
of Second World War, the company was disorganised and dissolved in
the process of time. In 1946, After the Second World War, Iranian Airways was founded
by private sector, operating primarily with just a few small aircraft
to carry passenger, cargo, and mail. Later when it took possession
of 17 aircraft, remnant of World War II, its potential in commercial
air transportation relatively raised to a high degree. It was of course
a praise-worthy achievement of French and Iranian engineers, who started
gradually remodelling and reconfiguring these military aircraft into
passengersŐ planes. Thus Iranian Airways, the name of which, in international
aviation circle, was changed to "Iran Air", started its scheduled
flight, initially flying from Tehran to Mashahd.
In 1953 parallel to successful operations of Iranian Airways, the
rich and the Royal Circle who were in very affluent circumstances,
realising the importance of private investment, particularly in Air
Line business, |
In
1926, almost 22 years after Wright Brothers made their maiden flight,
a bill was passed by then government of Iran under which the exclusive
rights of the air transportation in Iran was totally granted to a
German company called "Junkers". Junkers entered into a five-year
contract with concerned Iranian authorities through which the company
agreed to abide with the desire of the government to fly on Tehran/Bandar-e-Anzali,
Tehran/Bushehr, and Tehran/Gharanour (a point in Azerbaijan) routes.
Accordingly Junkers was made to establish a technical training centre
and to provide every and all facilities, including training type of
aircraft for pilot training purposes.
This
small, but historical mishap was, in fact, the turning point and a
stepping stone of commercial air transportation in Iran. Thus, travel
trade of the country was placed totally under a spotlight by international
airlines that went on to survey the requirements of the area. In 1929,
Imperial Airways, the name of which later changed to B.O.A.C. and
recently to British Airways, became the first international airline
to start servicing to Iran. On its way flying from London to the Far
East, it made stops in Bushehr and Bandar-e-Lengeh, manoeuvring undisputedly
to capture the whole market of the country. KLM-Royal Dutch Airlines-
flying from Amsterdam to Jakarta was the second airline set out towards
Iran and made step-over in Bushehr, enjoying the air market of the
country and transporting all passengers to South east Asia and to
Europe on its return flight.
determined
to set up another air carrier called "Persian Air Services" to carry
cargo mainly on domestic routes. However, three years later, transportation
of passengers between some Iranian major cities and points in neighbouring
countries was added to its operations. Both Iranian Airways and Persian
Air Services introduced their Haj Pilgrim operation in 1955 and four
years later the government purchased three Viscount aircraft and put
them at their disposal to add to their fleet. Finally on 16th February
1958 Iranian Airways ceremoniously inaugurated its weekly European
Services to Frankfurt via Ankara by a four engine aircraft called
"Sky Master", leaving Tehran at 0100 on Sundays arriving Frankfurt
at 1415.