Aer Lingus Group placed an order for six A330-300Es and six A350 XWBs, with deliveries commencing in 2009 and running though 2014. The carrier also holds the option to purchase a further six A350s for delivery by 2018 as part of an order valued at $2.4 billion at catalog prices. It noted in a stock exchange filing that "substantial discounts off the catalog prices have been negotiated." The transaction is subject to shareholder approval.

Croatia Airlines ordered four 76-seat Q400s with options on two more, Bombardier announced. Firm orders are worth an estimated $105 million at list prices. The turboprops will replace three 48-seat ATR 42s in the airline's fleet, which also includes four A320s and four A319s.

Silverjet signed an LOI to acquire two 767-200ERs from Thomsonfly for delivery next March. Aircraft are powered by CF6-80C2B4Fs. The all-business-class carrier now has five of the type either in use or on the way. It currently operates one aircraft on a daily London Luton-Newark service but said it is considering an additional 30 routes. Its second aircraft is undergoing cabin reconfiguration. A second daily frequency will start in late July. Silverjet flew 3,628 revenue seats in May at 62.6% load factor.

Mesaba Airlines will launch the first NextGen CRJ900 into service Thursday. The aircraft features a newly designed cabin interior and lower operating costs, according to Bombardier (ATWOnline, June 4). A Mesaba flightcrew operated a trial flight yesterday at Washington Dulles. First revenue flight for the Northwest Airlines subsidiary will start in Minneapolis/St.

Boeing's Dreamlifter, the modified 747-400 freighter used to transport the major assemblies of the 787, received its type certification by US FAA. Part of the flight test program has been the delivery of major sections for the 787 from partner sites to Everett, Wash., for assembly (ATWOnline, May 22). The Dreamlifter is not certified to carry passengers beyond essential crew. It has completed 437 flight test hr. and 639 hr. of ground testing since first flight on Sept 9, 2006.

While shoring up its domestic presence with its pending acquisition of Air Deccan, Kingfisher Airlines has big long-haul plans as well, including a possible alliance tie-up, Chairman and CEO Vijay Mallya said at this week's IATA AGM in Vancouver.

Airbus said last week that talks with labor groups are starting "at national level" to determine how 10,000 workers will be cut across France, Germany, Spain and the UK.

Finnair took delivery of its first new 269-seat A340-300E, the first of three ordered in December 2005. The second CFM56-5C4-powered A340 will arrive in mid-June. The aircraft will operate on the carrier's Helsinki-Tokyo Narita service.