Russia's National Reserve Corp., a major stakeholder in Aeroflot, signed a preliminary agreement for 22 787s, according to Russian daily Kommersant, which reported that the airline has transferred rights on the 787s to the shareholder because Russian authorities have not yet approved the deal for Aeroflot.

BAE Systems, which earlier this month decided to sell its 20% holding in Airbus to EADS for €2.75 billion ($3.52 billion) (ATWOnline, Sept. 8), is suggesting that A380 customers may want to brace for further production backups.

ATR delivered its 700th aircraft to Air Deccan at a ceremony in Toulouse. The ATR 42-500 was the sixth delivered to the Indian LCC, which signed a contract last year for 30 aircraft.

Air Adriatic of Croatia plans to add a 757-200 to its fleet. The carrier operates five MD-82s and one MD-83 for charter services and plans to launch scheduled flights in the future.

Boeing's Composite Manufacturing Center last week began fabrication of the first composite stringers for the 787 vertical fin, the largest Dreamliner assembly slated to be built by an internal Boeing division. CMC plans to deliver its first fully functional vertical fin to 787 final assembly in Everett, Wash., in spring 2007.