SkyWest Airlines took delivery of Bombardier's 250th CRJ700 last week in Montreal. It will be SkyWest's first aircraft operated for Delta Connection. It flies 180 CRJs including 57 CRJ700s.

Finnair selected the Rolls-Royce Trent 1700 over the GEnx launch engine to power the nine A350-900s it ordered late last year (ATWOnline, Dec. 8, 2005). The carrier also holds four options on the new widebody, which will begin delivering in 2011. The engine deal is worth close to €400 million ($487.4 million) at list prices.

AerCap, a major aircraft lessor and financier based in the Netherlands, said it signed an agreement to acquire Miami-based AeroTurbine for an undisclosed price. AeroTurbine specializes in aftermarket commercial aircraft engine and parts sales and holds an FAA-approved Certified Repair Station license to support its engine leasing and trading activities. It was founded in 1997 by CEO Nick Finazzo and COO Robert Nichols, who will remain in their current positions, according to AerCap.

The 15-year campaign to replace Berlin's fractured three-airport system with a single modern facility built to international standards gained a major victory when a German court overruled environmentalists and local residents who objected to plans to replace Berlin Schoenefeld with a new Berlin-Brandenburg International. Work had been halted on the €2 billion ($2.42 billion) project pending the decision. The new airport is scheduled to open in 2011.

China Southern Airlines selected Rolls-Royce Trent 700s to power 10 A330s in a $600 million deal that includes a support package. Delivery of the new aircraft will occur in 2007 and 2008 and will add to the carrier's fleet of four Trent-powered A330s. Rolls said the Trent 700 has won a 42% share of the combined firm and option A330 business and holds the entire market in mainland China and Hong Kong.

Oasis Hong Kong Airlines acquired two 747-400s previously operated by Singapore Airlines. Aircraft will be delivered in July and enter service later this year on the Hong Kong-London Gatwick route. "They are in excellent condition and perfect for our exclusive new long-haul, nonstop services priced for the budget-conscious traveler," CEO Stephen Miller said.

TAP Portugal took delivery of its first A330-200 earlier this week, the next step in its long-haul fleet renewal plan launched at the Dubai Air Show with an order for seven dash 200s and 10 A350s (ATWOnline, Nov. 22, 2005). Delivery of the dash 200s originally was scheduled to begin next year. The new aircraft will replace an A310 and be used on routes to the US, Brazil and Africa. TAP will take two additional dash 200s at the end of this month and in April.

AeroRepublica, the Colombian subsidiary of Copa Holdings, announced a firm order for five GE CF34-powered Embraer 190s worth a combined $175 million at list prices. The order includes 20 options. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in November. The aircraft will seat 108 in a single-class configuration.