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.

Spirit Aerosystems announced it inked an agreement with British Airways to supply thrust reverser, fuselage and wing components for its fleet of Boeing aircraft. Separately, it announced the opening of a new sales office in Shannon, Ireland to serve customers in Europe, Middle East and Africa.

SriLankan Airlines said last week it will equip its long-haul fleet with flatbed seats and new IFE systems starting in May 2011. It said the retrofits will occur on two of its five A340s and four of its five A330s. The airline also operates three A320s and plans to take delivery of five more A320s by the end of 2011, according to its website.

Boeing last week forecasted that airlines in Russia and the CIS will take delivery of about 960 new aircraft valued at $90 billion over the next 20 years.

Boeing said Friday it successfully completed the "final body join" of the first 747-8 Intercontinental in Everett, noting that mechanics "loaded the forward and aft fuselage sections to join with the wing and center section."

Boeing said Friday it successfully completed the "final body join" of the first 747-8 Intercontinental in Everett, noting that mechanics "loaded the forward and aft fuselage sections to join with the wing and center section."

Embraer delivered 20 commercial aircraft in the 2010 third quarter, down 31% from 29 in the year-ago quarter. The company delivered 70 commercial aircraft in the first nine months of 2010, a 27% decrease from 90 during the same period last year. Leading the way for commercial deliveries during the third quarter were 11 E190s (down from 20 in the year-ago quarter) and six E195s (down from 12 last year). As of Sept. 30, its firm backlog was valued at $15.3 billion, down 17.7% from $18.6 billion on Sept. 30, 2009.

Air Lease Corp. Chairman and CEO Steven Udvar-Hazy said this week in Munich that "it's hard to see a meaningful benefit" in re-engining A320s or 737s, Bloomberg reported.