Iran Air has retired its last Airbus A300B4, ending passenger operations of the type worldwide. According to industry reports, the aircraft made its final commercial flight back in June. Its retirement closes more than four decades of service for a model that was once central to Airbus’ early success.
The airline had kept the aircraft in use long after most airlines retired the type, largely because sanctions limited its ability to refresh the fleet. The A300B4’s exit now leaves only later A300-600R models in Iran Air’s passenger fleet. The aircraft had previously flown with several other operators before joining Iran Air’s fleet.
Reports Suggest Iran Air’s A300B4 Completed Final Commercial Flight In June
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According to Planespotters.net data, an Airbus A300B4, registered EP-IBG, is 41.1 years old and first entered service in December 1986. The aircraft joined Iran Air’s fleet in June 2006 on lease from ACT Airlines and became a workhorse for the carrier, flying short and medium routes across the region.
According to multiple industry reports, the jet operated its last commercial passenger service on June 12 from Jeddah King Abdulaziz International Airport to Isfahan International Airport. Flightradar24 data shows that since then it has completed several flights between Tehran International Airport and Al Najaf Airport, with the most recent round trip taking place on August 16. Over its career, the aircraft logged nearly 72,000 flight hours and more than 25,000 cycles.
EP-IBG Passed Through Multiple Operators Before Joining Iran Air
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Airbus first introduced the A300 in the 1970s as the world’s first twin-engine widebody jet. At the time, it offered airlines a combination of lower operating costs, improved range, and higher passenger capacity compared to four-engine long-haul jets. Notably, before joining Iran Air, the EP-IBG flew with several operators. Planespotters.net data shows it was originally scheduled for delivery to Luxair, but the handover never took place.
Instead, it entered service in December 1986 with Finnish carrier KarAir, which later merged into Finnair. In 1990, following Finnair’s acquisition of a majority stake in KarAir, the A300B4 was transferred to Finnair’s fleet. In April 1998, the aircraft moved to a Channel Islands-based carrier, Air Scandic, which operated charter flights for various UK tour operators (most of which operated out of Manchester Airport), and was soon leased to the British independent airline, Caledonian Airways.
It returned to Air Scandic in October that year before being leased out again to Caledonian in 1999 for a short period. In 2004, it entered service with MNG Airlines, followed by a brief lease to Turkish Airlines. After a year without flying, Turkish operated the aircraft again in early 2006. By June 2006, it was placed with Iran Air, where it stayed in service until retirement.
Sanctions Leave Iran Air Dependent On Older Aircraft
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Earlier this year, Simple Flying reported that as of early 2025, around 132 A300s were still operational, almost all of them freighters. Passenger variants were only active with Iran Air, which continued flying the model long after other airlines retired it due to sanctions limiting its ability to acquire replacements.
Iran Air Current Commercial Fleet
Aircraft
Fleet
Airbus A300-600R
4 (of which only two
are in active service)
Airbus A300B2
1 (Inactive)
Airbus A310-300
2
Airbus A319-100
3
Airbus A320-200
5
Airbus A321-200
1 (Inactive)
Airbus A330-200
4
ATR72-600
13 (of which only two
are in active service)
Boeing 737-200
1(Inactive)
Boeing 737-300
1 (Wet leased)
Boeing 747-200CM
1
According to ch-aviation data, Iran Air has about 39 aircraft in its fleet, including older types such as the A310-300 and A319-100. Now, with the A300B4 retired, only four A300-600R aircraft remain in the fleet, two active and two inactive, with an average age of 32.3 years. It is common for airlines in sanctioned markets to operate aging fleets, as older jets can be maintained more easily through spare parts sourced from retired airframes on the black market.
ICAO Code
A30B
IATA Code
AB4
First Flight Date
December 25, 1974
The United States and western nations have long imposed sanctions on Iranian carriers and on the country. Unless those measures are lifted, Iran Air is expected to keep operating older aircraft. In the past, carriers in sanctioned environments, including Mahan Air, have reactivated stored jets when replacements could not be secured. For the A300B4, a return is unlikely, but other aging aircraft could still enter Iran through indirect channels.
Current restrictions prohibit Iran from purchasing aircraft with US-made components, which effectively blocks deliveries of Boeing jets and most Airbus models. Despite this, Iran has acquired aircraft through indirect registrations and untracked delivery routes. In July, five Boeing 777-200ERs were transferred to Iran under opaque circumstances, and they were believed to be destined for Mahan Air.
