Qantas Regional subsidiary QantasLink said it will commit five of its seven new 72-seat Q400s to service in Queensland in northeast Australia, increasing capacity in the region by 18% in the coming months. The aircraft are scheduled for delivery by July.

Boeing said it delivered 73 commercial aircraft in the final quarter of 2005 comprising four 717s, 52 737NGs, four 747s, three 767s and 10 777s. Deliveries for the full year numbered 290 of which 212 were 737NGs.

Japan Airlines announced it is increasing the number of 747-400BCFs it has on order to eight with four options, up from its October 2004 commitment of three firm orders and four options. Value of the contract was not disclosed. JAL's first 747-400 passenger-to-freighter conversion entered modification at Taikoo Aircraft Engineering in Xiamen last month and will be delivered in May. Boeing said it now has 37 firm orders and 29 options for the aircraft. JAL also ordered four 767-300Fs last year.

SunExpress Airlines of Turkey placed an order with CTT Systems for Zonal Drying Systems to be installed this year on two 737-800s.

Northwest Airlines' markets are particularly well-adapted for new-generation large regional jets, the company argues in a special edition of its internal newsletter Passages. As previously reported, the carrier is seeking permission from its pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Assn., to create a standalone subsidiary to operate 70/100-seat jets (ATWOnline, Jan. 6).