Air New Zealand has begun to update its regional fleet with delivery of the first of seven ATR 72-500s. The new aircraft will replace the airline's older ATR 72-210s. Meanwhile, the airline has sold six 13/14-year-old Nordam Stage 3 hushkitted Boeing 737-200Advs to Mexican carrier Aviacsa. Sabena has phased out its last Boeing 747 with the return of its remaining General Electric CF6-50E2-powered 747-300 Combi to the owner. The airline's other 747-300 was retired in August and is stored at Paris Orly. Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Sun will each add an Airbus A321 in the second quarter of next year on operating leases. AOM French Airlines will late next year receive two Airbus A340-300s ordered recently by SAirGroup leasing division Flightlease (Flight International, 27 October - 2 November). An undisclosed customer has placed orders with Airbus Industrie for two A321s and a single A320. South African Airways has broken up one of its two remaining Pratt & Whitney JT9D-powered Boeing 747SPs. The aircraft incurred major damage last year when it suffered an uncontained engine failure while on lease to LAM Mozambique. Atlantic Coast Airlines has placed a follow-on order with Bombardier for three Canadair Regional Jet Series 200s, bringing its total orders for the type to 66. Boeing and Rolls-Royce have agreed to purchase some or all of Singapore Airlines' 17 Airbus A310-300s as part of the airline's orginal order for up to 77 R-R Trent-powered 777s, reports Flight International's sister publication Airline Business. The A310 buy-back option clause was included along with the much-publicised deal for Boeing to take back Airbus A340-300s. The airline is yet to finalise its plans for an A310-replacement order. Emery Worldwide has extended its wet lease of a World Airways Boeing MD-11 freighter to the end of next year. The MD-11 operates between Dayton, Ohio, and Brussels.
Source: Flight International
