Thai Airways unveiled a fleet plan designed to accommodate "increased competition over the next five years as well as open skies in Asia and various regions worldwide" and growing customer expectations. Through 2014 it plans to phase out six 747-400s, 10 A300-600s, four A340-500s, three 737-400s and two ATR 72s. It will take delivery of three A330-300s and six A380-800s during the same timeframe and said it plans to acquire an additional seven 300-seat planes for use on regional routes and eight 350-seat aircraft for intercontinental operations to Los Angeles and Scandinavia.

Emirates President Tim Clark told ATWOnline yesterday in Berlin that the airline's A380s have been a success with passengers and on the balance sheet but that "there are still problems with the reliability of the aircraft. And when we fix snags, we find new ones. I am trying to be kind to Airbus, but they have to solve the problems." The operational reliability of EK's seven in-service A380s is 90%-95%, which he said is not good enough, although he added that the manufacturer "gives us good support." EK plans to take seven more A380s and six 777-300ERs this year.

Boeing completed initial airworthiness testing on the 747-8 freighter, enabling test engineers to be onboard during future flights and allowing two additional 747-8Fs to begin test flights. "The airplane is performing as expected in the initial stages of flight test," it said. "Since the first flight in early February, the program has conducted 13 flights, achieving several key accomplishments. Pilots have taken the airplane to an altitude of 30,000 ft. (9,144 m.) and a speed of Mach 0.65. The program has completed approximately 33 hr. of flying.

Volga-Dnepr Airlines said it will take delivery of a third new-generation IL-76TD-90VD next month, taking Volga-Dnepr Group's investment in the modernized aircraft to more than $90 million. VI said it predicts its investment in the 50-tonne-capacity ramp-loading freighter "is likely to double as more new aircraft join its fleet to meet global demand for the IL-76TD-90VD's unique operating capability." It signed a contract for another two aircraft scheduled for delivery in 2011.

United Airlines firmed its order for 25 A350-900s, Airbus announced yesterday. Aircraft will be powered by Rolls-Royce Trent XWBs. UA, which will take delivery of the aircraft in 2016-19, signed a contract for 25 787-8s two week ago (ATWOnline, Feb. 26).

EgyptAir took delivery of the first of six 777-300ERs on lease from GECAS. Remaining five are due before the second half of 2011. The -300ER seats 346 and features 49 lie-flat beds.

Despite reporting a €763 million ($1.04 billion) net loss in 2009, reversed from a €1.57 billion surplus the prior year, Airbus parent EADS yesterday announced an increase in the monthly A320 family production rate from the current 34 to 36 in December thanks to "continuing demand" and a "record backlog." The Airbus commercial unit posted an operating profit of €386 million excluding goodwill impairment and exceptional items, an 83.3% plunge from the €2.31 billion earned on a similar basis in 2008. Revenue slipped just 0.6% to €26.37 billion.

Boeing expects to make a decision on 737 re-engining "toward the end of this year," Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Jim Albaugh said yesterday at the JP Morgan Aviation, Transportation & Defense Conference in New York, available via webcast. He said the company is talking to "all three engine manufacturers" and that it recognizes it is "looking at more competitors in the future" in the single-aisle market. "We have to deliver an airplane that has more value than the competition," he said