Copa Airlines took delivery of its fourth and fifth 737-800s, two of eight it expects to receive in 2010. The aircraft will seat 16 in business class and 144 in economy. Goodrich was selected by Icelandair to provide custom-tailored nacelle maintenance for the airline's RB211-535E4 engines that power its fleet of 19 757s. Agreement includes thrust reverser refurbishment and use of rotable assets and will be performed at Goodrich Aerostructures' Prestwick Service Center.

Airbus CEO Tom Enders told a group of journalists including ATWOnline in Hamburg this week that the company expects to deliver 20 A380s while securing orders for "more than 20" this year, including "additional orders from existing customers." He added, "I don't want to make airlines feel like we're putting them under pressure, but more and more it appears that an airline can only compete against an A380 with an A380."

American International Group named former Airbus North America President and CEO Henri Courpron to the post of president and CEO of subsidiary ILFC. He succeeds ILFC Vice Chairman Alan Lund, who has served as president and CEO since March.Steven Udvar-Hazy retired from the post in February after he was unable to arrange a purchase of the aircraft leasing giant he founded (ATWOnline, Feb. 8). Courpron will be based in ILFC's Los Angeles headquarters.

Lufthansa yesterday took delivery of its first A380-800 in a ceremony at Airbus's Hamburg facility. The Trent 900-powered aircraft is the first of 15 A380s that LH has on order. It expects to receive three more this year and four in 2011.

China's new turboprop aircraft,the MA600, an enhanced version of the MA60, received its airworthiness certificate from CAAC yesterday.

Copa Airlines took delivery of two new 737-800s as part of its ongoing fleet and network expansion. Copa said including these deliveries, it has received five of the eight aircraft it expects to take in 2010.

Pamir AirwaysAn-24B turboprop crashed in a mountain pass in Afghanistan yesterday morning at approximately 9:30 a.m. local time, killing all 43 passengers and crew on the aircraft, according to the Flight Safety Foundation's Aviation Safety Network. Flight PM112 was en route from Kunduz to Kabul when it went down near the Salang Pass north of Kabul. Heavy fog was reported in the area of the accident, ASN stated.

Boeing yesterday announced that it will increase 737NG production from the current 31.5 per month to 34 per month in early 2012. "The planned rate increase is aimed at satisfying continued strong demand," the manufacturer said. "In addition, the company continues to study further potential 737 rate increases, given continued customer demand."