Virgin Australia (DJ) has ordered 23 Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, the first in Australia, plus four options.

Airbus confirmed to ATW it has been granted a US patent for a high-capacity, dual-fuselage turboprop-powered aircraft design, featuring two sets of wings.

Boeing will collaborate with LOT Polish Airlines, Polish government agencies, and academic institutions to research air traffic management (ATM) solutions that could help make commercial aviation in Poland more efficient and support airline profitability.

Silver Airways took delivery of its seventh Saab 340Bplus aircraft, part of a fleet upgrade under which it intends to integrate 12 of the aircraft type by September 2012. The aircraft will begin operating schedule passenger service in July on routes throughout Florida and the Bahamas.

SunExpress (XQ), a joint venture between Turkish Airlines and Lufthansa (LH), will curtail its fleet expansion plan this year due to overcapacity in the Turkey aviation market.

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.