Iran is taking a break from denouncing Israel and homosexuals to pick on in-flight entertainment. Yes, that's right. IFE.The country is in a fury that route maps on IFE screens label the body water between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran as the "Gulf" or worse, the "Arabian Gulf". It says the correct term is "Persian Gulf", and according to the BBC "an ancient map with definitive proof of the correct name was sent on a world tour."
Iran has given airlines 15 days to change the display on "in-flight monitors". "If the airlines aren't willing, they will be forbidden to fly in Iranian airspace for a month on the first violation, and upon repetition the aircraft will be grounded in Iran and flight permits to Iran will be revoked," said Iranian Transport Minister Hamid Behbahani.
The issue extends beyond route maps. UAE paper The National reports:
A Greek air steward for Kish Air was fired and given 20 days to leave the country after he used the term Arabian Gulf on a Tehran-bound flight earlier this week. The unnamed flight attendant threatened to detain passengers when they complained of his use of the term, according to IRNA.I took this photo (above) on a January 2008 KLM flight to Dubai. At least in this shot, the body of water now in hot water (ho!) is unlabeled. Perhaps that will be the easiest solution going forward. Although this all wouldn't be a problem if the TSA still insisted route maps be turned off for fear of a terrorist attack.
The National explains the source of contention of this body of water: "It is referred to as the Persian Gulf on most maps and documents published before 1960, but Arab states argue it should be known as the Arabian Gulf, since most of the countries that surround it are Arab ones."
Added 25 Feb: As David mentions (see comments), IFE map woes are not unheard of. BMI had a problem last year of Israel not appearing on its IFE map.
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