ANA accelerated its fleet rationalization program (ATWOnline, July 13, 2006) with an order for four more 777-300ERs announced yesterday and the sale of three 747-400s to Oasis Growth Income and Investments for operation by Oasis Hong Kong Airlines. The 777s are worth $1 billion at list prices. ANA operates eight 777-300ERs and the new order brings its commitment for the type to 17. It operates 23 747-400s. It sold six to Iceland's Avion Aircraft Trading last summer.

Airbus opened its second North American engineering center in Mobile (ATWOnline, Feb. 1, 2006). The facility is performing interior design and definition work for the A350 XWB. Current employment is 32 and is expected to exceed 80 by year end.

VLM Airlines said yesterday it will introduce a BAe 146-300 into its previously all-F50 fleet from April 16 and use the jet on four of its 10 weekday Rotterdam-London City flights. "Increasing numbers of business travelers are utilizing our network and, in particular, our London City-to-Rotterdam service, and this larger, faster aircraft is essential to meet this growing demand," MD Johan Vanneste said. The new aircraft will "release some Fokker 50 capacity" for increased frequencies on unidentified routes.

UPS said Friday it will cancel its order for 10 A380Fs, expressing doubt that Airbus can maintain the delayed delivery schedule agreed to last month and leaving the manufacturer with no orders for the freighter version.

Gulf Air grounded its nine 767-300ERs Friday after detecting traces of corrosion on one plane during a routine maintenance check. The airline said there was no immediate risk to the aircraft but that it opted to order a thorough check of the entire -300ER fleet. It expects significant delays as it repositions aircraft throughout its network but said the 767s should return to service within days.