-Bombardier has confirmed the BWIA International Airways order for two new Dash 8Q-300s for delivery in mid-January 1999, plus options on another two.
-Icelandair has converted two of its five options for Rolls-Royce RB211-powered Boeing 757-200s, for delivery in 2000 and 2003.
-Danish charter airline Sterling European Airlines will add two new Boeing 737-800s early in 1999 on lease from Itochu AirLease.
-Canada's WestJet Airlines is buying four Boeing 737-200s from an unidentified Japanese airline (believed to be All Nippon Airways) for $4.5 million each, and has an option to acquire three more.The 737s will be delivered between now and next July, and a C$27 million ($17.5 million) loan facility to fund the expansion has been provided by Newcourt Capital, Canada.
-The new German airline affiliate being set up by Airtours to serve German tour operator Frosch Touristik International (FTI), has been named Fly FTi. The carrier will begin operations in May with three Airbus A320s transferred from the UK division's fleet.
-Queen Air of the Dominican Republic has taken an Airbus A320 on charter from Transmeridian to operate a service between Santo Domingo and New York Kennedy Airport.
-Hawaiian Airlines has added the first of three ex-American Airlines/Transaero McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30s to enable it to boost services between Hawaii and Los Angeles. The second aircraft will arrive in the first quarter of 1999, while the third will enter service August 1999.
-French charter carrier Star Airlines will use a Lockheed L-1011 TriStar 500 leased for two years from its Canadian affiliate Air Transat, for its long haul programme beginning this month.
-Brazilian carrier TAM has taken delivery of its first two Pratt & Whitney PW4168-powered Airbus A330-200s, to be used to inaugurate long-haul services from Sao Paulo, initially, to Miami and, later, to Paris and other European destinations.
Source: Flight International
