++ Air Macau has placed its first direct aircraft-purchase order with the signature of a contract with Airbus Industrie for one International Aero Engines V2500-powered A321-200, which will be delivered in November. ++ Olympic Airways has signed a contract for two additional Airbus A340-300s, plus two options, to add to the two similar aircraft that the Greek flag carrier ordered in August 1997. The newly ordered aircraft will be delivered in 1999. ++ Boeing has confirmed Lufthansa's $825 million order for five additional General Electric CF6-80C2-powered 747-400s, which was approved by the airline's board in December 1997. Deliveries will be made between 2000 and 2002. ++ City Bird has placed an order for a second Boeing MD-11, powered by Pratt & Whitney PW4000s, for delivery in April. ++ UK-based freight specialist Ocean Airways is to lease a Lockheed L-1011-200 freighter from Chartavia from February. The freighter will be operated on aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance contracts for other carriers. ++ South African company Valitrade has purchased the eight remaining Fokker F27 Troopships from the Royal Netherlands Air Force, and will use them to set up a cargo and passenger operation in southern Africa. ++ Ansett Worldwide Aviation Services has leased a Pratt & Whitney PW4158-powered Airbus A300-600R, which was previously with Garuda Indonesia, to the Nigerian airline Bellview. The lessor has also placed a third A300-600R with Qatar Airways. ++ Eastwind Airlines, a new US entrant, has leased a third Boeing 737-200 from CIS Air for delivery in February. The aircraft will be used prior to delivery of two New Generation 737-700 aircraft scheduled to arrive in April and June. ++ Garuda Indonesia has renewed its seasonal wet-lease of a World Airways Boeing MD-11 between March and May 1998. The aircraft will be used for transporting pilgrims to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Source: Flight International
