Air France subsidiary Brit Air converted six CRJ1000 NextGen options into firm orders, Bombardier announced. Aircraft are worth $299 million at list prices. Original order for eight firm plus eight options was placed in February 2007 (ATWOnline, Feb. 21, 2007). Brit currently operates 15 CRJ100s and 15 CRJ700s. The CRJ1000 NextGen completed its inaugural flight last month at Montreal Mirabel (ATWOnline, Sept. 4).

Boeing booked 11 more commercial aircraft orders last week, taking its year-to-date net to 623, but said that third-quarter deliveries fell 23% year-over-year. Last week's most notable commitment was ANA's order for nine 767-300ERs, which was announced last month but incorrectly identified with an identical order logged for nine -300ERs the prior previous week (ATWOnline, Sept. 29).

Avianca took delivery of the first of 10 A330-200s last week. Aircraft are part of a May 2007 order that included 47 A320 family aircraft (ATWOnline, May 31, 2007). The A330 will seat 280 and be powered by Trent 772Bs. Avianca will take delivery of one more -200, plus one A319 and one A320, before year end.

LuxairGroup will acquire a fifth Q400 for Luxair Luxembourg Airlines and a 737-800 for its tour operator LuxairTours to replace an ERJ and 737-500 respectively. The 72-seat turboprop should join the Luxair fleet in 2010.

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.