Finnair will cease its Saab 340 services from October, with the cancellation of wet-lease operations, as it concentrates on services with its fleet of nine ATR 72s. China Airlines has grounded its four remaining Airbus A300B4s and is offering them for sale. The airline is still searching for buyers for its two Boeing 747SPs, which are also grounded. American Eagle has received its first Embraer RJ-135 and will put the 37-seat aircraft into service in October. The regional affiliate of American Airlines holds 277 orders and options for the ERJ-135 and the larger, 50-seat RJ-145, which it will use to replace turboprops. Italian carrier Volare will boost its Airbus A320 fleet to seven aircraft next year by leasing two new CFM56-powered examples from GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS). International Aircraft Investors has completed the purchase of a seven-year-old, Rolls-Royce RB211-powered Boeing 757-200 which is on lease to Canada 3000 until May 2002. AeroCentury has acquired two Saab 340As which are on loan to Northwest Airlink operator Express Airlines I. America West has taken delivery of two new International Aero Engines V2500-powered Airbus A319s on lease from GECAS. Alaska Airlines has taken delivery of the first of eight Boeing 737-700s it has on order. The Seattle-based carrier also has 10 larger -900s on order. A 23-year-old ex-South African Airways Boeing 747SP is being offered for sale by Fortis Aviation. The Pratt & Whitney JT9D-powered aircraft has been in storage since earlier this year and has just undergone a C level maintenance check. Air Atlanta Icelandic has acquired two ex-Swissair 747-300 Combis on lease from Flightlease. The airline placed its recently acquired ex-Japan Airlines 747-200 on wet lease with Saudi Arabian Airlines. The Icelandic carrier has also acquired an ex-Continental Airlines 747-200 on nine-month lease, and has sub-wet leased it to Tunis Air until October.
Source: Flight International
