Air Astana President Peter Foster told ATWOnline yesterday that the carrier's MOU with Boeing for three 787s plus three options is "inactive" and that it is searching for alternative fleet solutions. Speaking in Almaty, Foster said, "There is very little clarity on delivery dates," for the 787. The MOU was signed in 2007 and delivery originally was scheduled for 2014-15 (ATWOnline, Jan. 3, 2008). Air Astana now estimates that its first Dreamliner could arrive as late as 2019.

Thai Airways' new president, Kasikornbank Bank executive and former Thai Minister of Energy Piyasvasti Amranand, yesterday said he plans to raise funds through a share issue next year. Thai has THB29 billion ($854.8 million) in debt to pay off in 2010. "We need to raise capital because we have a lot of short-term debt to be repaid," Piyasvasti said, according to Reuters. "We are also trying to convert our short-term debt to longer maturities.

Responding to media speculation that its 787 program may suffer more delays because of the complex side-of-body modification, Boeing VP and GM-787 Dreamliner Program Scott Fancher issued a statement Friday claiming that the troubled aircraft is on schedule to fly this year.

Qantas will have to wait until December for the delivery of its fifth and sixth A380s after encountering flight stability problems with the fifth aircraft, which had been expected to enter service on US routes next month. QF confirmed to ATWOnline that the aircraft will require further testing in Toulouse to rectify a minor trim stability problem. However, it dismissed media rumors that the A380 was not flying straight while on autopilot.

Volaris intends to lease two new A319s next summer, CEO Enrique Beltranena said last week, according to Dow Jones. He also said the Toluca-based carrier has been operating in the black for the past 17 months. Flydubai took delivery of a fifth new 737-800, part of its order for 50 placed at last year's Farnborough Airshow. Aircraft seats 189 in one class and is financed by the $320 million sale/leaseback deal recently announced with GECAS (ATWOnline, July 2).

Boeing, Honeywell's UOP and Mexico's Airports and Auxiliary Services agency, an arm of the Ministry of Communications and Transport, announced last week that they have formed a "collaboration to identify, research and further the development of a commercially viable market for Mexico-sourced sustainable aviation biofuels."

Republic Airways Holdings said it will acquire 10 E-190ARs from US Airways, applying the full balance of its October 2008 $35 million loan to US Airways toward the purchase of the aircraft and assuming the remaining debt on the jets. The loan originally was scheduled to be repaid between this month and October 2011. Four of the 99-seat aircraft are expected to enter service in November and December and will replace 717s being removed from Republic's Midwest Airlines subsidiary. The remaining six are expected to enter service with Republic-owned carriers during the first half of 2010.

Air Saint Pierre took delivery of a new ATR 42-500 that will replace an ATR 42-320 that has been operated by the company for 15 years. Due to the special operating conditions of Saint Pierre and Miquelon, the ATR 42-500 had to be tested and certified to be able to operate in crosswinds reaching up to 45 kt. at takeoff and landing instead of the 30 kt. for which it already was certified, ATR noted.