++ Pan American World Airways has agreed to lease three Boeing 737-300s from Alaska Air to supplement the Boeing 727-200s acquired through its merger with Carnival Airlines. The aircraft will be delivered in late 1997 and early 1998. ++ Western Pacific Airlines, now operating under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, has reached a sale and short-term leaseback agreement with Sterling European Airlines for its owned Boeing 737-300s, which will net the carrier $5.4 million. The airline operates 19 737-300s . ++Air Tahiti, the French Polynesian regional, has placed an order for one Aero International (Regional) ATR 72-210A for delivery in May 1998. ++ China Airlines will take delivery in February of a Pratt & Whitney PW4158-powered Airbus A300-600R on eight-year lease from International Lease Finance (ILFC). ++ Leisure International Airways will lease an additional 220-seat Airbus A321-200, powered by the CFM International CFM56, from GE Capital Aviation Services, for delivery in April 1999. This will be the fifth A321 for the UK charter airline, which is using the type to replace smaller A320s. ++ Aer Lingus has placed firm orders with Airbus for two CFM56-powered A321-200s, for delivery in early 1998. The airline will also lease two similar aircraft from ILFC. ++ SilkAir has signed a contract with Airbus covering the firm order of three A319s and five A320s, with options for a further ten aircraft for which the version is to be decided later. Deliveries will begin in September 1998, powerplants supplied by International Aero Engines. ++ Air France will introduce two CFM56-powered Airbus A319s in February and April 1999, on five- and six-year leases respectively, from ILFC. ++ Tyrolean Airways is boosting its Fokker 70 fleet to six, with the lease of an ex-Mesa aircraft from debis Air Finance. ++Airbus has sold its remaining Boeing Super Guppy to NASA. The other three aircraft have been retired for preservation. ++ Indian Airlines is to lease two ex-Philippine Airlines Airbus A300B4s from GECAS.

Source: Flight International

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