Virgin is seeking takers for the Virgin Sun fleet of three CFM International CFM56-powered A320s and two A321s. The aircraft are available from November as a result of the sale of the Virgin charter airline to First Choice, and XS Aviation has been appointed to remarket the aircraft. Tarom has taken delivery of two Boeing 737-700s as part of a modernisation plan. The Romanian flag-carrier received a low-interest $10.5 million loan from the country's privatisation board to fund the scheme. Tarom has signed an MRO deal with Lufthansa Technik for its entire fleet of 10 737s and the eight Next-Generation models being delivered. Swedish start-up TransJet Airways has taken delivery of an ex-Air Liberte Boeing MD-82 on 32-month lease from Finova Capital Air Group in a deal arranged by Cabot Aviation. The aircraft is being based in Manchester for the summer and will be sub-leased to Excel Airways. Meanwhile, Excel is wet-leasing three of four Boeing 767-200s Air Atlanta Icelandic recently acquired (two of which are ex-Britannia Airways), for the 2001 summer period. American Trans Air has received the first of 37 winglet-equipped Boeing 737-800s it has on order. The aircraft will be configured in a one-class 175-seat layout and will replace the airline's ageing fleet of Boeing 727-200s. Puerto Rico-based Roblex Aviation has taken delivery of an ex-Skyways Enterprise Shorts 360-300 which will be operated by its Roblex Air Cargo subsidiary. All Nippon Airways is to acquire three CFM56-powered Airbus A320s on lease from Mitsui in 2003. The move is part of the airline's plan to reduce the number of aircraft types operated, which will see it dispose of seven A321s. Boeing has delivered the first of 15 737-900s to Continental Airlines. The 167-seaters are operating flights from Houston to Chicago O'Hare, Dallas/Fort Worth, Denver, New Orleans and Orlando, as well as Cancun and Cozumel in Mexico.
Source: Flight International
