Ghafari Associates has announced that it has been awarded a contract from Bombardier Aerospace to redevelop its manufacturing complex in Montreal to support the lean manufacture of the CSeries aircraft.

Airbus said Thai Airways signed a firm order for seven A330-300s, confirming a commitment announced at last month's Farnborough Airshow (ATW Daily News, July 22). Deliveries will begin at the end of 2011. Engine selection was not announced but Thai's 20 in service A330-300s are powered by a mix of Rolls-Royce and Pratt & Whitney engines.

In response to robust domestic demand growth, Okay Airways plans to expand its fleet from eight to 12 aircraft by year’s end and to 20 aircraft by the end of 2011. The current fleet consists of three 737-800s, two MA60s and three 737 freighters operating on more than 20 domestic routes. The Tianjin-based carrier placed an order with AVIC for 10 MA60s in 2007. But owing to the carrier’s suspension of operation at the end of 2008, it introduced only one MA60 earlier this month. It operates on the carrier's Shenyang-Dalian route.

Vueling Airlines CEO Alex Cruz confirmed to ATW that the carrier plans to add six aircraft next year and said the company is in talks “with all the major aircraft manufacturers as well as current and some potential [new] lessors.”

Boeing insiders indicated the company has decided to push back the first flight of the sixth and final 787 flight test aircraft to Sept. 12, while on another front the manufacturer is facing a $1 billion claim from Air India related to 27 delayed Dreamliners the carrier has on order.

Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation reported that Dubai Aerospace Enterprise has cancelled an order with Airbus for 18 A320s and seven A350-900s valued at around $3 billion. ATW reported yesterday that Boeing lost 26 aircraft orders last week including 10 777s and 15 787s believed to have been ordered by DAE(ATW Daily News, Aug. 9). Airbus has had 41 order cancellations so far this year.

Bombardier said Porter Airlines signed a firm order for four Q400 NextGens plus six options. The Toronto-based airline’s firm order is valued at C$123 million ($120 million) at list prices. The four aircraft will increase Porter’s fleet of Q400s to 24 (ATW Daily News, Oct. 20, 2009). Porter took delivery of its 20th aircraft, and the 300th Q400 aircraft to be delivered, in April.

US FAA proposed an airworthiness directive to require operators of certain 747-400s to modify thrust reverser control system wiring to prevent inadvertent, automatic retractions of leading edge flaps.