Bombardier announced the conversion of four options for CRJ900 NextGens by the Iraqi government, which placed a firm order for six of the type last month (ATWOnline, March 14). New deal includes options on a further 10 aircraft. Four new orders are worth a combined $159 million at list prices.

The announcement of the merger agreement between Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines rippled across the US commercial aviation landscape yesterday as the respective pilot groups took opposing sides and the identity of future consolidation candidates was scrutinized.

TAT Group subsidiary Aircraft International Renting placed an order for two 70-seat ATR 72-500s for delivery late this year and next to Bangkok Airways. Order is valued at $37 million at list prices and will bring the airline's -500 fleet to 20.

TNT will invest €100 million ($157.9 million) over the next five years to expand its Europe-Asia express cargo services. The Dutch company said the money will be used to "strengthen its network coverage, connectivity and infrastructure" in response to "soaring demand for freight express services between Southeast Asia, China and Europe. . . driven by customers in the high-tech, equipment and machinery and healthcare sectors that are increasingly moving large volumes of high-value goods."

Bangalore-based National Aerospace Laboratories will receive approximately $75 million from India's Council of Scientific and Industrial Research to launch design of a turboprop aircraft to rival those manufactured by ATR, Mint business daily reported. The RTA 70 project eventually will cost an estimated INR20 billion ($500.6 million) and will aim at flying a 70-seat prototype aircraft in four years, project head Kota Harinarayana told the paper. It also expects to design 50- and 90-seat models. Harinarayana said the aircraft will have more composites than current models.

US major airlines will need to spend an estimated $110 billion to update their fleets, but even if they had the money, which they don't, the order backlog at Airbus and Boeing "means any replacements are years from delivery," according to a report from UK-based Ascend. The consultancy figures that US carriers operate 1,420 aircraft that will be coming to the end of their service lives over the next 15 years. It said problems "are particularly acute" for American Airlines, Northwest Airlines and United Airlines.

Aer Lingus confirmed a June order for six A350 XWB-900s and six A330-300s following receipt of shareholder approval for the purchase. Ryanair, which holds 29% of EI, voted against the acquisition and had insisted on a renegotiation or cancellation of the contract, saying it was negotiated at an all-time high in the last aircraft value cycle. "We would strongly urge your board and management. .

Allegiant Air parent Allegiant Travel Co. announced the purchase from Finnair of six MD-80s and three spare engines that currently are on lease to FlyNordic, which was sold by Finnair to Norwegian last year. "Our strong financial condition permits us to purchase aircraft for cash," Allegiant Chairman and CEO Maurice Gallagher Jr. said. The airline claimed to be one of only two in the US to carry more cash than debt as of Dec. 31.