Tehran

A Canadian judge has found UIA liable for the deaths of 176 passengers and crew on board a flight shot down by Iranian surface-to-air missiles.

The Dutch flag carrier is understood to have already held discussions with the Ministry of Roads and Urban Developments in Iran and is closely liaising with sister carrier Air France ahead of its own return to Tehran.

British Airways will return to Iran on 14 July 2016 after a 15.5-year absence of flying its own aircraft into the often controversial country.

Lufthansa is to launch a new three times weekly link between its Munich hub and Tehran from April 14, 2016 using an Airbus A330-300, while also boosting capacity on its existing Frankfurt – Tehran service by switching from an A340-600 to a Boeing 747-400. Meanwhile, Austrian Airlines is to introduce a second daily rotation on its Vienna – Tehran route from March 11, 2016 with a new day flight complementing its existing night operation.

The carrier describes the fleet additions as an important boost for the country’s civilian aviation industry, which has struggled for many years because of ageing fleets and American-imposed restrictions on access to replacement aircraft, parts, technology and service.

United Arab Emirates (UAE) carrier, Etihad Airways has announced its plans to increase flights between Abu Dhabi and Tehran from three-times-weekly to daily.