Another Boeing 737-300 delivered to Iran despite US sanctions

Another Boeing 737-300 was delivered to Iran! Boeing 737-300 EP-PPB flew on January 5 2023 from Minsk to Tehran as flight SPN8344 using hex code 60111B. The aircraft was photographed in Minsk in an all white livery. ‘SPN’ is the three letter code of Iranian HESA Airlines.

The actual airline which might be using the aircraft could be Sepehran Airlines. Hesa Airlines was formed by HESA (aircraft factory in Iran) to operate IrAn-140 (based on the Antonov 140) aircraft but suspended operations in September2013. Resumed limited services in same year as Sepahan Airlines.

Earlier at December 23, 2022 in total five aircraft were flown to Iran for delivery to Iran. Four Burkino Faso registered former Turkish Airlines A340-300s were flown from Johannesburg to Tehran. On the same day a former Nigerian registered Boeing 737-300 was flown from Belgrade to Iran. This was using a Sepahan Airlines flightnumber.

The Boeing 737-300 flown from Minsk in Belarus is former EX-37021. This aircraft flew Bishkek-Minsk at December 20 2022 using the same hex code. Information via Gerjon_ at Twitter https://twitter.com/Gerjon_/status/1611111627927027716

The photo below shows EP-PPB shortly before its takeoff