TEHRAN– Iran’s Mahan Air (W5) has discreetly expanded its wide-body fleet by acquiring five Boeing 777-200 aircraft, formerly operated by Singapore Airlines (SQ) and NokScoot. These aircraft underwent a complex, multi-country transfer process designed to circumvent longstanding U.S. and European sanctions on Iran’s aviation sector.
The jets, previously stored in Alice Springs, Australia (ASP), and later moved across several Asian airports—including Lanzhou, China (LHW) and Siem Reap, Cambodia (REP)—were re-registered in Madagascar before landing in Iran. Their transponders were turned off mid-flight, marking yet another example of aircraft transfers veiled in opacity.
Photo: By Jiaqian AirplaneFan, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=56798685Iran Smuggle Ex-Singapore Airlines 777s
Due to international sanctions, Iranian carriers like Mahan Air and Iran Air (IR) are barred from acquiring aircraft from manufacturers like Boeing and Airbus, as well as from most mainstream leasing companies.
In response, Iran’s aviation industry often relies on indirect, third-party arrangements that obscure the true destination of aircraft until the final stages of delivery.
In this instance, five Boeing 777-200s—each over two decades old—were initially flown by Singapore Airlines and later by NokScoot, a low-cost Thai carrier.
After NokScoot’s collapse in 2020, the aircraft were stored in Alice Springs (ASP). Between September 2023 and February 2024, they were sold to Ion Aviation, a U.S.-based entity, and briefly registered under U.S. tail numbers: N99001 through N99005.
Photo: By Javidfa – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=60520691The Multi-Nation Journey of Disappearing Jets
Following their transfer to Ion Aviation, the aircraft moved to Lanzhou (LHW) in China and later flew to Siem Reap (REP), with some also stopping in Jakarta (CGK). The stopovers may have included maintenance or final livery adjustments before their ultimate journey to Iran.
On July 15, 2025, the five aircraft departed from Cambodia in close succession. As they passed over Afghanistan, their ADS-B transponders were disabled—a common practice in covert transfers—before re-emerging under Madagascar registration numbers:
- 5R-RIJ
- 5R-RIS
- 5R-ISA
- 5R-IJA
- 5R-HER
All five jets eventually landed in Iran, where they are expected to enter active service with Mahan Air, the country’s largest private airline.
US Visa Waiver Program; Photo- WikipediaSmuggling Planes Through Legal Gray Zones
The aircraft’s circuitous journey highlights the elaborate network used to sidestep sanctions. Several notable elements stood out:
- Middleman Companies: Unknown or newly-formed entities, such as Ion Aviation, act as brokers to distance transactions from Iran’s end users.
- Loophole Countries: Nations like Cambodia and Madagascar are frequently used for aircraft registration or interim stopovers, as they are not bound by the same sanctions.
- Non-Transparent Flight Paths: Turning off transponders mid-flight avoids detection by aviation authorities and watchdogs.
- Regulatory Blind Spots: While the U.S. government may investigate such transactions, enforcement is difficult once aircraft have left U.S. jurisdiction.
While many reputable aviation firms avoid these practices, others exploit loopholes through loosely regulated markets and jurisdictions.
The complexity and audacity of these operations illustrate how determined Iran’s aviation industry is to maintain long-haul capability despite widespread international isolation.
Photo: By Sheba_Also 43,000 photos – https://www.flickr.com/photos/shebalso/2391289259/, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=73400287The Intrigue of Aviation Logistics
Such smuggling operations demand skilled coordination among ferry pilots, aviation consultants, registration authorities, and maintenance crews.
Videos by reputable ferry firms like Nomadic Aviation Group offer legal insight into how complex aircraft deliveries can be, further highlighting the murkiness of the Mahan Air acquisitions by comparison.
Though not all details are publicly verifiable, the pattern observed with these aircraft is consistent with other Iranian airline acquisitions in recent years.
From a logistical perspective, these movements underscore a highly coordinated workaround system that continues to outmaneuver international controls.
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