British Mediterranean Airways, a franchise partner of British Airways, took delivery of the first of seven A321s yesterday. The aircraft, powered by IAE V2500s, seats 149 in a two-class layout. BMED currently flies three leased A320s and three leased A321s on routes from London Heathrow to the Middle East, central Asia and Africa.

China Eastern Airlines Wuhan's board approved the purchase of five ERJ-145LRs from Harbin Embraer, the joint venture between Embraer and AVIC II. China Airlines Jiangsu previously ordered five ERJ-145s (ATWOnline, March 25, 2005).

A flurry of December activity, highlighted by an order for 150 A320 family aircraft from China Aviation Supply Corp., raised Airbus's 2005 sales total to 1,111 gross orders and 1,055 net orders, propelling it past Boeing in terms of new orders for a fifth consecutive year.

Embraer ended 2005 with 120 commercial aircraft deliveries comprising 46 170s, 14 175s, 12 190s, 46 ERJ-145s and two ERJ-135s. Two 190s scheduled for delivery in December were delivered in January and delivery of two 170s sold by Embraer's defense segment to a state-run airline was rescheduled to this year. The airframer delivered 141 aircraft in 2005 and held a firm order backlog, including defense and business aircraft, valued at $10.4 billion. It has firm orders for 45 members of the ERJ-145 family and 322 orders for 170/190 aircraft.

International Aero Engines said Friday its contract with Mexican startup Volaris to provide V2500 engines for its order of up to 56 A319s (ATWOnline, Jan. 13) will be worth up to $950 million if all options are exercised. The aircraft order consists of 16 firm and 40 options. Volaris also signed a long-term engine MRO agreement that includes comprehensive support and off-wing services under the recently launched V2500Select approach.