Boeing opened a new 787 vertical fin assembly line at its production facility in Salt Lake City. Operated by Boeing Fabrication, the 35,000 sq. ft. composite assembly line will build the vertical fin assemblies for 787s built at Boeing's South Carolina facility. The Boeing Salt Lake City facility is scheduled to deliver its first vertical fin to Boeing South Carolina during the fourth quarter.

Airbus said it finalized an agreement with Singapore Airlines under which the carrier will lease 15 new A330-300s to be delivered by the manufacturer from 2013-2015 to join an existing fleet of 19 A330-300s currently operated by SIA.

China Aviation Supplies Holding Co. and ICBC Financial Leasing inked an accord Tuesday with Airbus to purchase 88 A320 family aircraft.

Boeing delivered a 777 freighter to Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Crystal Cargo. The freighter is Etihad's first Boeing freighter and joins the airline's existing 777 fleet, which includes seven 777-300ERs. TAAG Angola Airlines took delivery of its first Boeing 777-300ER. The aircraft is part of an order for two placed in October 2009. The aircraft will be used for route expansion on service to Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Lisbon, Oporto, and into the US upon approval.

Dublin-based aircraft lessor Avolon said it is aiming to establish itself as a leader in the Asia/Pacific and Middle East markets and plans to open an office in one of the two regions during the next 12 months. It already maintains offices in Hong Kong and Shanghai and has leased 26 aircraft to nine airlines between the two regions.

Boeing said Monday it has started function and reliability testing and ETOPS demonstrations on the 787, noting it is entering the "final phase of flight testing prior to certification of the airplane."

The Chinese government has blocked an order from Hainan Airlines' subsidiary Hong Kong Airlines for 10 Airbus A380 aircraft, according to widespread news reports.