Estonian Air will lease two Saab 340s from the manufacturer. The aircraft will join the fleet in May and September and will replace F50s. The carrier said it will use them to develop several new regional routes, starting with St. Petersburg.

Oman Air signed a letter of intent to purchase five A330-200s with deliveries starting in 2009, CEO Ziad Karim Al Haremi told reporters in Muscat, according to the Oman News Agency. The order follows the Omani government's February OMR37 million ($95.9 million) capital injection (ATWOnline, Feb. 21).

Japan Airlines ordered five additional 787-8s, bringing its total to 35 and pushing Boeing's total Dreamliner sales to more than 500 if new orders from unidentified customers are included. JAL placed an order for 30 787s in December 2004, nine months after Boeing launched the program. The manufacturer said yesterday that it has sold 514 Dreamliners to 43 customers, meaning 23 new orders from four customers including JAL have been received since the end of last week.

ATR delivered six new aircraft in the first quarter comprising two 72-500s to Finncomm Airlines, two 72-500s to CCM, one 72-500 to Kingfisher Airlines and one 42-500 to Pakistan International Airlines. It expects to deliver 44 aircraft in 2007.

Virgin Blue converted options for three E-170s to firm orders and took purchase rights on three additional E-190s, Embraer announced yesterday. The transaction adds to last fall's order for 14 aircraft (ATWOnline, Nov. 3, 2006). "This added flexibility initially provides a range of new operating opportunities in Australia and, potentially, for short-haul routes to New Zealand and the South Pacific islands," Virgin Blue CEO Brett Godfrey said.

British Airways selected Trent 800s to power the four 777-200ERs ordered last week (ATWOnline, March 28) for delivery in 2009. It also signed a long-term maintenance agreement. Of BA's 43 777s, 15 are Trent-powered -200ERs with the remainder outfitted with the GE90.

Precision Conversions said Spain's Cygnus Air exercised one option for an additional 757-200 freighter conversion. Work will begin in August. Cygnus, which provides scheduled cargo service to Iberia, already operates one Precision Conversions 757-200PCF.

Aviation Partners Boeing announced the sale of 12 Blended Winglet shipsets to Shandong Airlines for its 737-800s.