Iranians living in European Union countries and in the United Kingdom have criticized a recent decision to ban flights by Iran’s national airline to destinations in the EU and in the UK, saying the ban has negatively affected more than a million passengers.
In a petition signed on the Change.org, a copy of which was available on the website on Monday, the Iranian diaspora in the EU and UK said it was unacceptable to force on “unnecessary and lengthy arrangement” on passengers to use connection flights rather than direct flights by Iran Air to travel to Iran.
“Every year hundreds of thousands of passengers in Europe book their flight to Tehran with the airline to visit their families and friends, and therefore the recent action disrupts their ability to this end,” read the petition.
It said that the EU, UK action to ban flights by Iran Air will cause major hardship to the elderly and those with disabilities.
The petition called on authorities in the European capitals to reconsider their position and allow Iran Air to continue to operate in Europe, a decision it said would be in the interest of over a million passengers.
Iran Air used to fly to seven destinations in EU countries, namely Roma, Milan, Vienna, Hamburg, Cologne, Frankfurt and Paris as well as to the British capital of London before the EU announced its sanctions on the airline on October 15.
In the sanctions announcement, the EU accused Iran Air and two other Iranian airlines of having a role in the alleged supply of drones and missiles from Iran to Russia,
Iran has repeatedly rejected accusations it has been supplying weapons to Russia for use in the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Iranian aviation authorities said last week that flights to and from the Turkish city of Istanbul by domestic airlines had increased significantly since mid-October to help passengers affected by EU’s sanctions on Iran Air.