Afrijet Airlines of Nigeria and ATR announced the signing of a Heads of Agreement deal for the purchase of four 68-seat ATR 72-500s worth a combined $80 million. Aircraft wil be powered by PW127Ms and will feature the Elegance cabin and IFE. Afrijet launched as a cargo carrier in 1999. Its passenger fleet currently comprises MD-82s and -83s.

United Airlines sent a request for proposals to both Boeing and Airbus "that could result in a potentially significant number of aircraft that could ultimately replace our widebody fleet," according to a letter to employees from Chairman and CEO Glenn Tilton obtained by ATWOnline, with The Wall Street Journal pegging the potential order at 150 aircraft.

French officials leading the investigation into the Air France A330-200 that crashed into the Atlantic Ocean Sunday night about 400 mi. northeast of the Fernando de Noronha archipelago cautioned against "hasty interpretations or speculation" regarding the accident's cause, particularly since no wreckage from the aircraft has been recovered.

As more debris was spotted in the Atlantic Ocean where an Air France A330-200 is suspected to have crashed Sunday night about 400 mi. northeast of the Fernando de Noronha archipelago, French officials embarked on what they fear may be a difficult investigation owing to the depth of the sea at the crash site. The Brazilian air force, which on Monday spotted a 3-mi. debris field and an oil slick on the ocean's surface (ATWOnline, June 3), yesterday said it observed a "a 23-ft. piece, seemingly metallic."

Air France CEO Pierre-Henry Gourgeon said the A330-200 carrying 228 passengers and crew that crashed late Sunday into the Atlantic Ocean experienced "multiple technical failures," and the Brazilian air force yesterday spotted debris where a TAM flight crew had seen spots of fire on the ocean surface shortly after the A330 was suspected to have gone down.

Zest Air of the Philippines placed an order for six additional MA60s. The carrier, formerly Asian Spirit, already operates five of the Chinese-built aircraft and expects to take delivery of the newly ordered planes starting in October. Two more will arrive in December, with the remaining three coming next year, AVIC's Xi'an Aircraft Industry Co. said. The MA60 has received 92 firm orders, with letters of intent signed for another 70. The MA600 has received 12 orders.

Alitalia received a fifth new A320, part of a major fleet renewal comprising 90 new A320s by 2013 and 14 A330s. It will take delivery of a further nine A320s by year end. All seats on the new A320 fleet are equipped with LCD screens and AZ is replacing seats on its existing Airbus fleet. Its fleet currently comprises 153 aircraft, 135 used for short/medium haul and 18 on long-haul flights.

BAE Systems Asset Management arranged the placement of a BAe 146-200QT freighter with PT Nusantara Air Charter of Indonesia. Aircraft was owned by Erik Thun and previously was managed by European Turboprop Management of Sweden.