EgyptAir said its corporate jet aircraft charter subsidiary Smart Aviation Co. has formed a commercial airline unit that will be launched with two Q400 NextGen aircraft ordered Monday. Bombardier said the order's value is $62 million based on list prices but could rise to $158 million if EgyptAir exercises three Q400 options also placed Monday.

Boeing early Friday confirmed ATW Daily News's report that it has been informing customers of a further three-month delay in 787 first deliveries. Kenya Airways Group MD and CEO Titus Naikuni told this website Thursday in Nairobi that Boeing had informed him of the delay (ATW Daily News, Aug. 27). The manufacturer said in a short statement that it "now expects delivery of the first 787 in the middle of the first quarter 2011." It had been targeting first delivery to launch customer ANA during the 2010 fourth quarter.

[UPDATED FROM ORIGINAL POST] Kenya Airways Group MD and CEO Titus Naikuni said the carrier is considering canceling the nine 787s it has on order, and claimed Boeing has informed him that the Dreamliner's first delivery to ANA will be delayed another three months.

Bombardier said 60% of 222 Q400s it has directed airlines to inspect have been examined, adding that less than 4% of the inspected aircraft have required repairs.

Lufthansa took delivery of its third A380 Aug. 20 with a ferry flight from Hamburg to Frankfurt. The worldwide A380 fleet now stands at 36 operating aircraft. LH’s fourth A380 will be delivered this fall. Thai Airways has started talks with Airbus regarding an order for up to 30 A350s and six A380s, the Bangkok Post reported.