Japan Airlines took delivery of its first E-170 Friday. JAL signed a deal with Embraer in June 2007 for 10 firm orders plus five options (ATWOnline, Feb. 23, 2007). The 76-seat, single-class aircraft will be operated by regional subsidiary J-Air.

Southwest Airlines Chairman and CEO Gary Kelly said this week that the carrier will take delivery of 10 737NGs next year, down from the 14 previously planned, with four deliveries deferred until 2016. He added that SWA continues to consider flat capacity growth next year an option and could treat the new 737s as replacements by "returning five [737 Classics] to the leasing company" and selling "five or more" that it owns.

The ongoing Boeing machinists strike has forced Australia's Virgin Blue to postpone the launch of its V Australia transpacific service between Sydney and Los Angeles planned for Dec 15.

Rockwell Collins will provide Norwegian with avionics for 42 737NGs with an option for 42 additional aircraft. Technology includes RC's WXR-2100 MultiScan Hazard Detection System. Deliveries are slated to begin next year.

Porter Airlines reached agreement with Bombardier to convert two existing options on 70-seat Q400s into firm orders. Aircraft will be the 17th and 18th in the Toronto-based regional's fleet. Value of the new contract is $52 million at list prices.

Transaero DG Olga Pleshakova said the carrier plans to announce an order for six A350 XWBs or A380s very soon. She told the Vedomosti business daily that the airline is awaiting a detailed offer from Airbus, adding that the A350 "is a more economical aircraft" than the 787. Transaero has ordered eight A330-200s and four A320s but currently operates no Airbus equipment. It expects its fleet to reach 43 by year end, up from 38 one year ago. It recently took delivery of its first 777-200.

Clickair, Iberia's low-cost affiliate, plans to ground seven or eight aircraft for the winter season owing to anticipated weak demand, a spokesperson told Reuters.

Pinnacle Airlines will operate seven additional CRJ900s for Delta Air Lines that are being returned by another unidentified Delta Connection carrier. Three will arrive this month and another four in November. Pinnacle will lease the aircraft from DL on a short-term basis and return them as five ordered CRJ900s are delivered from Bombardier from January through May 2009. Pinnacle currently operates 11 CRJ900s (nine for DL).