Arguing that the case for its merger with Delta Air Lines is "stronger than ever," Northwest Airlines yesterday unveiled a further round of capacity cuts that will contribute to the removal of 43 aircraft from its fleet this year retroactive to Jan. 1. "In response to these extraordinary fuel costs, we are taking prudent actions to reduce our capacity and right-size the airline. This will allow us to better match our capacity to customer demand as airfares, by necessity, must increase," President and CEO Doug Steenland said.

Qantas's interest in the 777-300ER as a partial replacement for its 747-400 fleet is growing, Australian media are reporting. QF has 20 A380s on order for key routes such as Los Angeles and London Heathrow, but flights to destinations such as Tokyo Narita, San Francisco, Johannesburg and Frankfurt will not justify the A380, at least initially.

Lufthansa will begin phasing out its 60-strong 737-300/-500 fleet by next year, with the -500s leaving by the end of 2009 and the remaining aircraft being retired by 2012, depending on market developments.

Boeing booked 35 737 orders from unidentified customer(s) during the week ended June 10, the company indicated on its Orders and Deliveries website.

Cyprus Airways is considering a partial renewal of its fleet to cut down on its growing fuel bill, it said this week. "We are looking at the possibility of a part renewal of our aircraft in some depth. We expect to have a partly renewed fleet by the next summer season," Chairman Kikis Lazarides said at a Nicosia news conference, Reuters reported. It said CY's fleet of two A319s, seven A320s and two A330-200s has an average age of 12.5 years. The airline reported a rare profit in 2007 (ATWOnline, Feb.