Airbus announced that China Aviation Supplies Holding Co. signed for a total of 102 aircraft, of which 66 represent new orders (50 A320 family aircraft, six A330s and 10 A350 XWBs). The value of the transaction and aircraft delivery dates were not disclosed.

Qantas has grounded its six-strong A380 fleet after one of the aircraft suffered an uncontained engine failure just after takeoff from Singapore yesterday.

Lufthansa subsidiary Austrian Airlines said it expects to turn a profit on its long-haul flights for business travel in 2011 for the first time since they were established in 1988 owing to the relaunch of five-times-weekly Vienna–Mumbai flights Oct. 31 (ATW Daily News, May 25).

Singapore-based BOC Aviation announced it has ordered 30 Airbus A320 family aircraft with deliveries scheduled over three years from 2012. This order follows Tuesday's announcement of an order for eight Boeing 777-300ERs for long-term lease to Thai Airways International (ATW Daily News, Nov. 3).

Singapore-based BOC Aviation announced it has ordered 30 Airbus A320 family aircraft with deliveries scheduled over three years from 2012. This order follows Tuesday's announcement of an order for eight Boeing 777-300ERs for long-term lease to Thai Airways International (ATW Daily News, Nov. 3).

Citing China’s rapid economic development and steadily increasing personal wealth, Boeing predicts the country will become the world’s No. 2 aircraft market over the next 20 years, requiring 4,330 new commercial aircraft valued at $480 billion and tripling its fleet size. “China is one of the world’s fastest growing and dynamic aviation markets,” Boeing VP-Marketing Randy Tinseth said. “We expect domestic passenger traffic for China to grow at a rate of 7.9% on average,” he told reporters in Beijing on Tuesday.

BOC Aviation ordered eight Boeing 777-300ERs for long-term lease to Thai Airways International. Boeing valued the orders at $2.2 billion at average list prices.

Boeing said that Russian state corporation Rostechnology finalized a previously announced order for 50 737NGs with purchase rights for an additional 35 valued at $3.7 billion. The order, signed two months ago (ATW Daily News, Sept. 20), is for 15 737-700s, 25 -800s and 10 -900ERs.