Tehran, Nov 26, IRNA-Some 10 passenger planes will join national air fleet by the end of the current Iranian year (March 2006), Managing Director of national airliner, Iran Air, Saeed Hessami said on Saturday.

He said that the passenger planes have been leased, because, US economic sanction has created obstacles for purchase of planes for Iran.

Hessami said that Iran Air has planned to lease passenger planes to meet the needs of the national flag carrier to update its air fleet.

He said that Iran Air is currently using leased planes on its domestic and international routes.

He said that the US has deprived the Iranian nation of its natural right of buying new passenger planes and Iran Air has renovated its fleet by replacing ageing planes with leased ones.

Hessami said that Iran Air has a 60-year record and Iran plans to increase international flights by its flag carrier.

... Payvand News - 11/26/05 ... --