Afriqiyah Airways last week took delivery of its third A319. Aircraft seats 124 passengers and is powered by CFM56-5Bs.

GOOD THINGS COME TO THOSE WHO wait. Bombardier Aerospace is betting on the truth of that adage as its CSeries development program kicks into high gear after what only can be described as a challenging beginning since the company first proposed the aircraft in early 2004.

Beset by continuing problems with the 787 program, Boeing Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Scott Carson announced that he will retire from the company at year end. He will be succeeded effective today by Boeing Integrated Defense Systems President and CEO Jim Albaugh. A Boeing spokesperson said Carson will help with the transition and work on special projects during his remaining time with the company.

Airbus announced delivery of the 4000th A320 family aircraft, a 144-seat A319, to TAM.

ATR will make the "official presentation" of the first ATR -600 series aircraft, an ATR 72-600, at a ceremony in Toulouse on Oct. 1. Flight trials for the variant, which features a new cockpit and passenger cabin, began July 24. Flight trials for the smaller ATR 42-600 will take place next year. Service entry for both is expected in 2011. The 72-600, which is powered by PW127Ms, offers an additional 500 kg. MTOW and MZFW compared to today's versions. ATR said it holds orders for 54 72-600s and five 42-600s.

Boeing said yesterday that 787 first flight "is expected by the end of 2009" with first delivery to launch customer ANA pushed back to the 2010 fourth quarter, a schedule that allows for a longer flight test program than previously planned to provide "some cushion. . .to account for unknowns."

BAE Systems was selected by easyJet to remarket four IAE V2533-A5-powered A321-200s. Aircraft will be available for delivery in September and October.

Norwegian took delivery of its first directly purchased 737-800. It now operates 13 -800s, 28 737-300s and four MD-80s and still has 45 -800s on order.