Air Algerie took delivery of the first of four 66-seat ATR 72-500s ordered in December (ATWOnline, Dec. 9, 2009). The remaining three also will be delivered this year, lifting the size of its 72-500 fleet to 12. ATR said it will provide assistance to the Algerian flag carrier with the installation, commissioning and operation of a new flight simulator, which is part of AH's plan to open a pilot training center in Algeria.

Moscow-based LCC Avianova said it signed a lease contract with Aviation Capital Group for two V2500-powered A320s. It currently operates two of the type and will take delivery of its third next month and the fourth in April. The airline is transferring from Vnukovo to Sheremetyevo in late March (ATWOnline, Jan. 28). It plans to launch service to Ufa on March 5 and Perm on March 6 and already serves seven destinations from Moscow.

Messier-Bugatti has begun retrofitting 36 AeroMexico 737-700s/-800s with carbon brakes. It said the program marks the "first actual replacement" of steel brakes on in-service 737NGs.

AWAS delivered the fourth of six A330-300s to Singapore Airlines. It is acquiring 19 of the type overall. The new 285-seat, two-class aircraft will operate to Australia and Japan.

Koito Industries of Yokohama was ordered this week by the Japanese Civil Aviation Bureau to re-test some 150,000 aircraft seats installed on around 1,000 aircraft operated by 32 airlines worldwide and make fixes if necessary. JCAB accused the company of falsifying data from tests on the seats' fire and shock resistance and Koito, which is 20% owned by troubled automaker Toyota Motor Corp., later admitted to the wrongdoing.