Malaysia Airlines advised the markets yesterday that its first A380 will be delivered six months late, similar to the revised delivery schedules for all launch customer airlines. MAS said in a media release, "Airbus confirmed that the first A380-800 aircraft will be delivered in July 2007 instead of January 2007 and the last (sixth) aircraft will be delivered in May 2009." Executive Director Tengku Azmil Zahruddin said, "We are naturally disappointed with this delay.

M7 Aerospace was awarded an STC for passenger-to-freighter conversion of ATR 72s. The company already holds an STC for ATR 42 conversions and has completed 30 to date.

Indian government finally approved Indian Airlines' order for 43 A320 family aircraft. Indian media quoted Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as saying, "Our government has announced today the purchase of 43 Airbus aircraft worth $2.2 billion." The announcement was made after the conclusion of talks between Singh and British Prime Minister Tony Blair. Separately, India is moving to stabilize the flow of pilots from airline to airline and will legislate that pilots must give carriers six months' notice of intent to leave.

LOT Polish Airlines ordered seven 787-8s and took options on two and "hold purchase rights" on five more. Boeing valued the firm aircraft at around $910 million at list prices. They will be powered by Rolls-Royce Trent 1000s and deliveries begin in 2008. The 787s will replace LOT's six 767-300s and two 767-200s. Airbus had offered the A350 in competition. LOT said the evaluation process was supported by Sabre Airline Solutions while the final results were scrutinized by Ernst &Young. The supervisory board's decision in favor of the Boeing product was unanimous.

Wizz Air finalized a previously announced contract for 12 A319s/A320s plus 12 options (ATWOnline, July 14). Aircraft will be powered by IAE V2500s. Deliveries will begin in the summer of 2007.