Two Boeing 767-300ER jets bearing the Aeroflot logo touched down in Moscow on Friday, ending the Russian international airline's protracted struggle to lease the long-range planes.


Vladimir Tikhonov, general director of Aeroflot, called the first flight "historical" and said that new planes would help Aeroflot compete with foreign companies on transatlantic hauls.


"It is a new stage in the development of air transport of Russia and of our cooperation with the United States," he said.


The two Boeings are the first foreign jets which Aeroflot will use on flights to North America. Earlier these flights used Russian Il-62, Il-86 and Il-96-300 aircraft. Only the I-96-300 can make the trip to the U.S. non-stop.


Aeroflot said earlier this year that the planes would be in service by July 1. Holdups in negotiations and problems with Russian import taxes, however, delayed the leasing deal.


According to Tikhonov, Aeroflot will lease the jets for five years from Ireland's GPA leasing company and will be used on regular Moscow-New York and Moscow-Chicago flights, as well as on occasional flights to Europe. Tikhonov said that the terms of the agreement were extremely favorable for the company but gave no details.