Figures just released by the European Regions Airline Assn. (ERA) show the economic downturn began to bite its member carriers in March.

The $600 million, 116-acre A320 family assembly and delivery center that Airbus will build in the US will be almost identical to similar facilities in France and Germany.

Airbus announced Monday it will establish an A320 family manufacturing facility in Mobile, Ala., and expects to begin assembling aircraft from 2012 and start deliveries from 2016.

Memphis-based FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corp., announced it will purchase an additional 19 Boeing 767-300 aircraft as part of its plan to improve the efficiency and technology of its fleet.

Dubai-based Emirates Airline (EK) said its expansion plan will be readjusted after it lost nearly $100 million from necessary modifications to repair wing rib cracks on its in-service Airbus A380s.

Pratt & Whitney has closed on its $1.5 billion buyout of Rolls-Royce’s shares in the International Aero Engines (IAE) joint venture that produces V2500 engines for Airbus A320s.

Airbus plans to build an A320 Final Assembly Line (FAL) in Mobile, Ala., several media outlets have reported.

The Agricultural Bank of China (ABC) Financial Leasing Co. has placed an order for 45 Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China (COMAC) C919s.