Iranian airlines face disruption in foreign exchange supply, ticket prices rise about 40%.

The Secretary-General of the Iranian Airlines Association, Majid Akhlaghi, said on Saturday that ticket prices in Iran have risen by about 40% due to rising operating costs and foreign exchange shortages. Akhlaghi stated that more than half of airlines' operating expenses must be settled in foreign currency; banks have been unable to provide foreign exchange to airlines through official exchange channels for more than a month, and airlines can only purchase foreign exchange at rates close to the black market rate.