TAME of Ecuador took delivery of its first two 76-seat Embraer 170s. It also has an order for a 104-seat 190 and options on an additional four aircraft from the 170/190 family.

Qantas will convert four 737-300s to freighters for domestic operator Australian air Express. Work will commence next month and be completed by January, with the aircraft entering service as they are completed from August. The program will use conversion kits developed by Israel Aircraft Industries' Bedek Aviation division. The 737s will replace a fleet of 727-200s. Australian air Express is owned jointly by Qantas and Australia Post.

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.