TEHRAN, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Altogether three secondhand Airbus A319 passenger planes have joined Iran's national flag carrier Iran Air, Eghtesad online news website reported on Monday.

The measure is part of a plan to increase the capacity of Iran Air flights to meet the high seasonal demand for air travels during the upcoming Iranian New Year holidays which will start on March 21.

All the three jets, manufactured in 2002, were bought from an unnamed domestic airline company last year, according to the report.

The measure comes after the Airbus, Boeing and ATR aircraft companies failed to uphold their contracts with Iran Air as a result of the U.S. administration's unilateral withdrawal from the landmark 2015 nuclear deal and subsequent return of sanctions against Iran.

The reimposition of U.S. sanctions against Iran also prevented the sale of Russian-made Sukhoi aircraft to Iranian airliners.