Bombardier President-Regional Aircraft Steve Ridolfi said yesterday at the Regional Airline Assn. annual meeting in Cincinnati that "the 50-seat market has matured" and the focus is switching to RJs in the 70/90-seat range. "The larger RJs are a new weapon in the arsenal," he said. "The relaxation of scope clauses is accelerating this trend." Even so, 50-seat aircraft will not be replaced fully by larger RJs: "They're not dead yet. There's a decent 50-seat market out there." While the US airline industry is dominated by RJs, turboprops remain a popular choice elsewhere.

Although deliveries were up year-over-year, Embraer reported a 6.6% decline in net income to $96.5 million for the first quarter ended March 31 from net income of $103.3 million in the year-ago period. Net sales rose 21.9% to $763.3 million but operating expenses climbed sharply on a steep increase in research and development costs. As a result, income from operations totaled $124.5 million, an 18.6% decline from $153 million in the 2004 quarter.

Air Mauritius plans to acquire three new A340-300s valued at $540 million, with the first two scheduled for delivery in October 2006 and the third in October 2007. The carrier also holds options to buy two more. At present, the carrier's fleet consists of five A340-300s, two 767-200ERs, two A319-100s, one ATR 72-500 and two ATR 42-500s.

Indonesia's Lion Air expects to make a decision by the end of May on an order for up to 60 737-800s/-900s or A320s to replace its MD-80 fleet. Earlier this year, the carrier signed an MOU for up to 40 737-900s but Airbus made a counteroffer (ATWOnline, March 1).

Atlasjet International Airways will be the first airline in Turkey to operate the CRJ700 when it takes two secondhand aircraft to open new service linking Istanbul with domestic destinations.

AWAS delivered the second and final leased A321-100 to Air Macau.

Bombardier selected Montreal as the final assembly site for its planned CSeries of aircraft. Company officials said the Greater Montreal area was chosen because of its "competitive partnership offers," an environment for manufacturing and a recently signed agreement with Bombardier employees in Quebec Province. The company's Belfast plant in Northern Ireland was picked to develop wings, engine nacelles and composite empennage structures.

Aircraft system architecture is undergoing a major revolution in the design of current and upcoming aircraft as manufacturers increasingly reject long runs of pneumatic and hydraulic lines through the wings and fuselage in favor of electric wires, a design philosophy generically labeled "More Electric Aircraft."