Futura International Airways, a charter carrier based in Palma de Mallorca, will become the first European operator of the 737-900ER when it takes delivery of two next year, Commercial Director Juan Munoz de Baena told ATWOnline. It also will take two 737-800s in 2009 and another in 2010. Futura currently operates 13 -800s, three 737-300s and 13 737-400s. Despite the fleet expansion, it is challenged by the seasonality of the European charter business dominated by the summer high season.

Boeing added 46 orders to its backlog last week including 27 aircraft for unidentified customers: Six 747-8s (understood to be freighters), six 777s (understood to be -300ERs for Virgin Blue) and 15 787s.

Bombardier spokesperson told ATWOnline that 12 of the 13 Q400s grounded by ANA following Tuesday's emergency landing at Kochi are back in the air (ATWOnline, March 14). The aircraft that experienced the landing gear malfunction remains grounded as inspectors investigate the cause. Other Q series operators have inspected their aircraft and found nothing unsafe, Bombardier said.

Airbus appeared to be on the verge of winning a significant order yesterday as reports from Moscow indicated that Aeroflot is close to announcing a major buy. Aeroflot CEO Valery Okulov told reporters at a news conference that SU was planning to sign a contract for 22 A350 XWBs with deliveries beginning in 2015. Reuters reported that Okulov said, "The deal will be done."

Pinnacle Airlines yesterday signed a contract for 15 74-seat Q400s plus 10 conditional orders and 20 options. The firm aircraft are worth $381 million at list prices and the deal could climb to $1.2 billion if conditional orders and options are exercised, Bombardier said. Aircraft will be operated by Pinnacle subsidiary Colgan Air for Continental Connection.

Azerbaijan Airlines selected the GEnx to power the three 787-8s it ordered last month (ATWOnline, Feb. 26). The engine order is valued at more than $100 million, GE said.

US Airways is close to ordering 60 A320 family jets or 737NGs to replace its 737-300s and -400s and expects to make a selection by the end of April, according to Senior VP and CFO Derek Kerr. Speaking at the airline's media day in Tempe yesterday, Kerr said deliveries would occur in the 2008-10 timeframe and that both Boeing and Airbus have delivery positions available.

Emirates President Tim Clark told ATWOnline last week in Berlin that the operating costs of its A380 fleet will be higher than originally planned. "There are still an extra six tons of weight we can't get out of the A380. That will cost us extra money in operation for the next 10 or 15 years," Clark said.