Gulf Air claims it will conclude before year end its negotiations with Boeing and Airbus on changes to its orders for 24 787s and 20 A330s, respectively, and decide on a new order for up to 10 RJs, CEO Samer Majali told ATW on the sidelines of the Arab Air Carriers Organization’s 43rd AGM in Cairo last week.

British Airways firmed up options for another two E-190 jets, increasing its E-Jets firm orders to 13, comprising six E-170s and seven E-190s. The aircraft will be operated by its London City-based subsidiary BA CityFlyer. “We are delighted to announce the conversion of these two options, which will increase our fleet size by almost 20% at London City airport,” said BA CityFlyer MD Peter Simpson. “Customer feedback on the new fleet has been fantastic, particularly with the additional space and two-by-two seating.”

Cathay Pacific Airways CEO Tony Tyler told ATW in Perth that the carrier is still keeping the door open on possible A380 or 747-8 orders, while urging Boeing to improve its "fantastic" 777. "The 777-300ER is a fantastic aircraft but it’s going to need to improve to compete with the A350-1000," he said. "Sure, the A350-1000 is not a Hong Kong–New York aircraft but it certainly is a Hong Kong–Europe aircraft. And so if they are going to sell more 777s to us they will have to improve it."

Embraer announced Friday it has signed a contract with Fuji Dream Airlines of Japan for an E-175, which will have a single-class configuration with 84 seats. The order also includes an option for one additional aircraft. This deal is already included in Embraer’s firm order backlog for the third quarter of 2010, as being from an undisclosed customer. Value of the transaction was not supplied.

Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Jim Albaugh said on Thursday that the company has "pulled back inside some elements of engineering [on the 787-9], which in the past had been on the outside—specifically activities surrounding composites."

Skyworld Aviation placed one ex-Shuttle America Embraer 170 with Fuji Dream Airlines of Japan on behalf of Republic Airways Holdings. Lufthansa Technik said it took delivery of two SunExpress CFM56-7B engines at its Hamburg engine overhaul center, the first two powerplants it will overhaul as part of a 10-year Total Engine Support deal signed earlier this year covering the carrier's CFM56-7Bs powering its 737-800s.

AerCap Holdings announced that Gothenburg-based cargo operator West Atlantic will become the launch operator for the Airbus A320 passenger-to-freighter program by taking an initial three aircraft on lease from AerCap with deliveries between 2012 and mid-2013, with the option of a further four aircraft by 2015. The agreement is subject to finalization of terms and conditions, AerCap said. The aircraft are part of a 2008 passenger-to-freighter conversion project between Airbus Freighter Conversions and AerCap covering up to 30 A320s.

Russia's S7 Airlines plans to buy a mix of up to eight 737-800s and A320 family aircraft in 2011 as part of its fleet modernization program, according to CEO Vladimir Obyedkov. "If the shareholders permit it, we will buy seven or eight aircraft," he told RIA Novosti. He said the 737-800s would operate for S7 subsidiary Globus Airlines while the A320s would join S7's mainline fleet. The carrier currently operates 28 A320 family aircraft, five A310-200/300s and two 767-300s. It also owns several Russian-built aircraft including Tu154s and IL-86s.