Austrian LCC Niki took delivery of a new 212-seat A321 Wednesday. It now operates nine A320 family aircraft including an A320 leased from Vueling Airlines. President Niki Lauda told ATWOnline in Stockholm that the carrier expects to transport 2.2 million passengers this year, up 29.4% from 2007 (ATWOnline, Jan. 14), and operate 20 A320s by 2019. He said the new aircraft will be financed over a 12-year period, with 80% coming from banks and the remainder from the carrier's own cash.

Bombardier is projecting 12,900 deliveries of new aircraft in the 20/149- seat range over the next 20 years, up from its previous forecast of 11,200. The market now is valued at $528 billion. "Fuel is a major driver in our revised forecast," VP-Commercial Aircraft Marketing and Communications Trung Ngo said at this week's Regional Airline Assn. meeting in Indianapolis. The numbers represent a "significant increase in fleet size" as airlines seek replacements for aging aircraft or move to expand their fleets, he said.

Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines executives continued to push the merits of their proposed merger this week, assuring both federal and state legislators that no "frontline" workers will be cut, while the two carriers' pilot groups plan to meet next week.

Sukhoi Superjet 100's first flight is expected sometime this month, Superjet International Senior VP-Commercial Aircraft Paolo Revelli Beaumont confirmed at this week's Regional Airline Assn. conference in Indianapolis. "All component testing is done," Beaumont said (ATWOnline, May 5). First delivery to launch customer Aeroflot is expected in the first quarter of 2009.

Airbus confirmed yesterday that CEO Tom Enders sent a letter to A380 customers revealing that the manufacturer is "undertaking a review of the A380 program," and Emirates and Etihad Airways said they had been warned by the company that further delivery delays are possible. Emirates, the leading A380 customer, has 58 on order and expects to take its first five in its current fiscal year that started April 1 and another 12 in the year ending March 31, 2010. It is planning to start A380 service to New York JFK in October.

Futura International Airways took delivery of two 737-900ERs. Aircraft are powered by CFM56-7Bs and are leased from GECAS. The Palma de Mallorca-based leisure carrier is the first European airline to operate the -900ER.

Mitsubishi Aircraft Corp. and Saab said they are working to forge a partnership agreement in which the Swedish manufacturer will provide customer and product support services for the new Mitsubishi Regional Jet.

Embraer delivered the first 100-seat E-190 to Switzerland's Flybaboo, which is leasing the aircraft from M1 Travel of Lebanon (ATWOnline, March 26). Aircraft features the steep approach option, allowing it to operate out of London City, Lugano and Florence.