Airbus Industrie received its first firm contract for the new 107-seat A318 in April, when an undisclosed customer placed orders for 57 A320 family aircraft, including 30 A318s, 14 A319s, three A320s and 10 A321s. COPA Airlines of Panama has taken delivery of the first of 12 Boeing 737-700s it has on order, or will lease. The first aircraft, leased from Tombo Aviation Services, features the carrier's new colours, introduced after Continental Airlines took a 49% stake in the carrier. COPA holds firm orders for eight 737-700s, and three more will be leased - one from Tombo and two from GECAS. Brussels International Airlines has taken an ex-Onur Air Airbus A321-100 on five-year lease from International Lease Finance. The International Aero Engines V2500-powered aircraft will be operated by Red Air on Mediterranean charter flights. Transavia has placed orders for four new Boeing 737-800s, two of which will be delivered next year, with the other two due in 2002. The deal will boost the airline's 737-800 fleet to 12, and the four additional -800s will replace Transavia's four oldest Boeing 737-300s. Northwest Airlines' cargo division has acquired a ninth Boeing 747-200 freighter, which will be put into service on transpacific routes in September. Great Western Aviation has acquired an ex-WestAir Commuter Embraer EMB-120RT Brasilia from Dana Commercial Credit in a deal arranged by Northstar Aviation Services. CIT Group has taken delivery of a new Airbus A320 from Airbus and placed it on lease with China Northwest Airlines. CIT has also acquired an Icelandair Boeing 737-400 from Wing Aerospace 5. Orders for five more Embraer RJ-145s, along with five options, have boosted the British Regional Airlines (BRAL) deal for the 49-seater to 25 aircraft. Ten ERJ-145s are operated by BRAL and five of the 10 outstanding orders will be delivered over the next nine months, with the last five due by 2002.
Source: Flight International
