Excel Airways, a UK-based charter carrier, will purchase 10 Aviation Partners Boeing Blended Winglet shipsets for its fleet of 737-800s, four of which are leased from ILFC and six owned jointly by GE Commercial Aviation Services and Royal Bank of Scotland. APB said Excel will save more than 115,000 gal. of fuel per aircraft per year using the winglets.

Boeing is in final negotiations with Emirates for up to 50 787-10s, which will become the fourth model of the fastest-selling twin-aisle aircraft in history. Mike Bair, VP and GM of the 787 program, told media yesterday in a global conference call, "It's not a matter of if but when we are going to do it. We have three versions and there have been a few customers, most notably Emirates, that have asked us for a stretched version with 300 seats." He indicated that up to a dozen carriers are in discussion with Boeing about the model, which would be ready for service late 2012.

AeroMexico adds new service from Ontario, Calif., to Aguascalientes, Leon/El Bajio and Morelia beginning the week of April 2, bringing the total number of weekly flights from Ontario to 19. Separately, AeroMexico took delivery last week of its first 777 from Boeing. With the delivery, it also "becomes the first airline in the Americas to receive Boeing's Class 3 Electronic Flight Bag," the airframer said. The airline will take a second 777-200ER in April.

The US National Transportation Safety Board on Friday urged FAA to order immediate inspections of the inner skin of the composite rudder surfaces of certain A300 series aircraft in order potentially to avert the possibility of "a catastrophic failure of the rudder," NTSB Acting Chairman Mark Rosenker said in a statement.

The A380 successfully completed its passenger evacuation test yesterday, "paving the way [for European aviation authorities] to certify the aircraft in time for delivery by the end of 2006," Airbus said. The aircraft, A380 MSN7, was fitted with a very-high-density cabin layout featuring 853 seats, all of which were occupied. In addition, there were two cockpit crewmembers and 18 cabin crew from Lufthansa onboard to manage the evacuation.