Xiamen Airlines is negotiating with Boeing to order 25 737-800s valued at $2.1 billion, with the aircraft to be delivered in the 2011-13 timeframe if a deal can be reached. "We will offer a favorable price to Xiamen Airlines, as its fleet is virtually all Boeing," Commercial Airplanes President Scott Carson noted during his recent trip to Xiamen. Currently the carrier operates 43 Boeing aircraft comprising four 737-300s, six 737-500s, 15 737-700s, nine 737-800s and nine 757-200s. One additional 737-800 will be delivered in August.

Airbus parent EADS named Rudiger Grube co-chairman of the board, replacing Manfred Bischoff, who resigned to become chairman of DaimlerChrysler. The German joins co-Chairman Arnaud Lagardere of France. Bischoff had been co-chairman since 2000 and Grube has been a member of the EADS board since 2004.

GE-Aviation said Virgin Nigeria Airways signed a five-year, $15 million OnPoint Solutions services agreement covering MRO on 14 CFM56-3Cs on its 737-300s. Separately, North American Airlines and Virgin Nigeria announced an interlining agreement covering NAA's New York JFK-Lagos service and several VK destinations. NAA also will support VK's application to operate the transatlantic route, including a possible wet-lease arrangement.

Boeing delivered 106 commercial aircraft in the first quarter, up 8.2% from the 98 delivered in the first three months of 2006. First-quarter 2007 deliveries comprised 83 737NGs, three 747s, three 767s and 17 777s.

Honeywell will provide its RDR-4000 next generation windshear/weather radar system, Qantaum com/nav radios, TCAS/Mode S, solid-state FDR, 2-hr. solid-state CVR and emergency locator unit to Cathay Pacific Airways for use on 18 firm and 18 option 777-300ERs. Value of the contract good through 2014 is $35 million.