747-8 Intercontinental order booked last week (ATWOnline, June 12) is a VIP transport for a Middle East-based buyer, ATWOnline understands. According to sources in London, the order is linked to the order for 20 777s also booked last week. That order is believed to be for Qatar Airways. Meanwhile, Virgin Blue Airlines is the customer that exercised purchase rights for nine 737-800s last month, Boeing said yesterday.

TAME of Ecuador took delivery of a 104-seat Embraer 190. The carrier has two 170s in operation and holds four options on 170/190 family aircraft.

Tassili Airlines, an affiliate of Algeria's Sonatrach state energy group, ordered four Q400s in a deal valued at $84 million, according to a Sonatrach release and press reports, which said Bombardier beat out Airbus and ATR for the order. The aircraft are expected to be delivered between July and October 2007. A Bombardier spokesperson told ATWOnline that the company still is negotiating with Sonatrach.

Boeing has sold the first passenger version of the 747-8, according to information posted on its website late last week. The order has not been announced formally. It was recorded on May 30 and placed by an unidentified customer, which may or may not be an airline. Boeing also received orders for two 747-400Fs from an unidentified customer on May 31. The 747-8 was launched last November on the strength of firm orders for 18 747-8Fs from Cargolux and Nippon Cargo Airlines.

Airbus and the National Development & Reform Commission of China announced the selection of the Tianjin Binhai New Coastal District as the site for a potential A320 final assembly line should Airbus decide to move forward with the project.