Aegean Airlines announced yesterday a firm order for eight A320s with 12 options in a move that signals the largely domestic carrier may be primed to compete for greater market share with floundering Olympic Airlines.

World Air Holdings, parent of World Airways and North American Airlines, signed a letter of intent to lease three 747-400SFs. The converted United Airlines passenger aircraft will be delivered in June 2008, November 2008 and May 2009 and will be leased for seven years. WAH President Jeff MacKinney said the company had been looking to expand its ACMI cargo operation, "where we have seen solid growth and new long-term contracts with our existing MD-11 freighter fleet."

AirAsia's first A320 arrived in Kuala Lumpur Thursday after a 19-plus-hr. journey from Toulouse.

The supervisory board of Deutsche Lufthansa AG yesterday approved an order for 12 CRJ900s that will be configured for 84 seats and will replace 50-seat CRJ200s. In a statement, the airline said, "The competitiveness and cost-efficiency of the regional fleet are of crucial importance in Lufthansa's European operations and for feeder flights to intercontinental connections at its major hubs."

Middle East Airlines and Syrian Arab Airlines are in the market for new lift. According to the Arab Air Carriers Organization, MEA is planning to add a new aircraft to its fleet in 2007 and one in 2008. In addition, it is evaluating the possibility of operating 50/70-seat regional aircraft. It expects to achieve a $40 million net profit for 2005 after earning $50 million in 2004 and is planning to float 10%-20% its shares on the Beirut Bourse next year. Syrian, meanwhile, is expected to finalize an order for three A330s and four A321s as early as year end.