Foreign airlines stop Iran flights

TEHRAN: Foreign airlines, including Malaysia's AirAsia and Britain's BMI, are ceasing services to Iran amid its mounting economic problems spurred on by Western sanctions.

AirAsia announced it was suspending its four flights a week between Kuala Lumpur and Tehran from next Sunday because of challenging business conditions, notably the "volatility of the Iranian currency."

BMI will halt its flights from Saturday because of its full takeover by British Airways, a spokeswoman for the parent airline told AFP in London, adding that "customers will be offered a full refund."

Travel agents in Tehran said Georgian Airways was also considering halting its four weekly flights, but there was no confirmation from the airline itself.