ILFC announced the following lease deals: KrasAir Airlines for four used 757-200ERs for six years, Air Europa for one new A330-200 for 5.5 years, Golden International Airlines of Turkey for one used 757-200ER for six years, JETX of Iceland for two new 737-800s for eight years and KLM for one new A330-200 for six years.

CFM International won an order from Air China valued at $345 million for CFM56-5Bs to power 24 A321s scheduled to be delivered in 2008-12. In addition, CA signed a 15-year maintenance agreement. Air China and CFM agreed to establish a JV to develop a new MRO facility in China.

MNG Airlines, a Turkish freight operator, signed an MOU for two A330-200Fs plus one option, Airbus announced. MNG currently flies 10 A300B4-200s and eight F-27s.

Emirates and Boeing are working to try and reduce the weight of the 747-8 Intercontinental so the airline can operate Dubai-Los Angeles with 400 passengers (a 50-ton payload) year round. "We need another 500 miles and we are not there yet," EK President Tim Clark said, indicating he wants more capacity than is available aboard the 777-200LR. "We think we can fill 400 seats a day."

Boeing has been forced to drop its plans for a wireless IFE system on the 787 after it was found that regulatory issues would preclude the system's being activated over certain countries. Problems also were encountered with bandwidth limitations in some areas as well as weight. The silver lining is that the change will save 150 lb. In October Boeing acknowledged some problems with the 787's weight and delivery schedule (ATWOnline, Oct. 26, 2006), forcing it to raise R&D spending to support suppliers.