NavAero said Continental Airlines chose its Class 2 navAero tBagC2-2 computer and display hardware as the electronic flight bag flight deck hardware for the carrier's 757 and 767 fleets. Installation will start next year.

Emirates President Tim Clark told Bloomberg News that the airline would buy a stretched A380, for which ILFC already is pushing (ATWOnline, Nov. 12). "If we had the stretch available today, probably two-thirds of the A380s we've got on order would be for that model," he told the news service, adding that EK would configure the aircraft to seat around 750. Airbus CCO John Leahy said an A380 stretch could enter service around 2015.

Jeppesen finalized an agreement with Qatar Airways to supply electronic flight bag applications and data for the airline's new 777s that will feature the Boeing Class 3 EFB. First aircraft is scheduled for delivery this month.

Aviation Partners Boeing announced that Alaska Airlines has become the first carrier to operate a 737-900 with blended winglets. It expects to retrofit its -900 fleet by late next year. Continental Airlines and KLM also have ordered winglets for their -900s. APB said EASA certification is expected in early 2008.

Airbus and French authorities launched an investigation Friday into an accident involving an A340-600 carrying out engine runup tests at the manufacturer's Saint-Martin site near Toulouse ahead of the aircraft's scheduled delivery to Etihad Airways. The jet, carrying nine people, apparently crashed through a barrier. Photographs show the badly damaged A340, bearing Etihad livery, nearly split in two, with the destroyed cockpit and nose area of the fuselage mostly severed.