Rockwell Collins’ (RC) dispatch program has been selected by Air India (AI), Hainan Airlines (HU) and China Southern Airlines (CZ) to service and support their Boeing 787 fleets.

Irkut said that while it is hopeful it will increase the number of MC-21 aircraft sold by the end of the year, it will hold off on “real, aggressive” marketing until assembly of the first aircraft. The maiden flight is scheduled for mid-2015.

International Aero Engines (IAE) is at an all-time high in terms of production capacity, it said, producing nearly two engines a day, with more than 5,000 engines produced to date and another 2,000 in backlog.

Bhutan’s national airline Drukair has signed a firm order for an Airbus A319, adding to its existing fleet of two A319s.

Mexico’s Interjet has converted its five Sukhoi Superjet 100 (SSJ100) options into firm orders from a previously announced order for 15 of the aircraft plus five options.

Latvian carrier AirBaltic (BT) has signed a letter of intent (LOI) covering 10 CSeries CS300s, which will be used to renew its jet fleet.

Kuwaiti lessor ALAFCO announced a commitment for 20 Boeing 737 MAX 8, the first sale of the type into the Middle East.

Airline obsession with sky high oil prices has prompted a sharpened rivalry among engine manufacturers that are eager to use Farnborough to showcase new products with better fuel efficiency.