Luxair Group board approved the purchase of an additional Q400 and said it will decide on the purchase of a fifth Q400 at the end of September. Luxair Luxembourg Airlines will take delivery of its fourth 72-seat Q400 in late 2009. Aircraft will replace an ERJ, keeping the carrier's fleet at 11 units.

EgyptAir is the customer for two 777-300ERs previously listed as unidentified on Boeing's orders and deliveries website, the manufacturer announced yesterday. The aircraft are worth $529 million at list prices and will feature MS's new business class layout, which includes 49 lie-flat seats with 78-in. pitch. Delivery dates were not announced, but the airline is scheduled to take the first of six -300ERs on lease from GECAS in January 2010 (ATWOnline, Dec. 3, 2007).

TAM announced a revision to its international growth plan comprising the addition of two 767-300s to its fleet before year end, meaning it will close the year with 125 aircraft in operation. During the remainder of 2008 it will launch Sao Paulo Guarulhos-Lima, GRU-Orlando International, Belo Horizonte-Miami and Rio de Janeiro Galeao-New York JFK.

Grupo Marsans took delivery of its first directly purchased A330-200 for its Air Comet subsidiary. The PW4000-powered, 283-seat aircraft is part of an order for 17 -200s placed in December 2006 (ATWOnline, Jan. 9, 2007).

Spanish authorities have recovered the engines of the Spanair MD-82 that crashed on takeoff last week and will disassemble them "screw by screw" to try to determine whether a thrust problem contributed to the accident, the head of the crash investigation said yesterday.

Qantas is understood to be moving toward an order for the 365-seat 777-300ER as Boeing pulls out all stops to thwart a commitment to the rival A350-1000.

Bahrain Air signed a letter of intent for the acquisition of up to six A320s. It said the order would increase its fleet to 11 aircraft upon delivery. Dates were not announced. The privately held carrier currently serves 10 destinations.

GE Aviation yesterday announced a deal with Afriqiyah Airways for CF6-80E1s to power three firm A330s and three options. Firm engine order is valued at more than $100 million and deliveries are slated to begin in May 2009. The CF6-80E1 incorporates technology from the Tech CF6 program. Tripoli-based Afriqiyah currently operates CFM56s on its A320 fleet.