Qantas A330 flying from Hong Kong to Perth Sunday night encountered "severe turbulence" that resulted in the hospitalization of six passengers and one crewmember with "minor injuries," the airline confirmed. All were soon released. "The aircraft most likely encountered what is known as convective turbulence, which led to it rapidly gaining around 800 ft.

Joy Air, the joint venture launched by AVIC and China Eastern Airlines in the spring of 2008, will begin operations next month following the arrival of two MA60s Sunday. The Xi'an-based carrier signed a contract for 13 MA60s at last November's Zhuhai Air Show and plans to acquire 50 of the type, plus 50 ARJ21s, within the next eight years (ATWOnline, April 27).

Airbus announced aircraft MOUs with Turkish Airlines and Paramount Airways Friday, concluding a reasonably successful Paris Air Show week with firm orders for 58 aircraft worth nearly $6.4 billion and MOUs for an additional 69 planes worth $6.5 billion. THY signed its MOU for five A330-300s and two A330-200s (increased takeoff weight version) for delivery starting in August 2010. Its Airbus fleet currently comprises 46 A320 family aircraft, five A310s, seven A330s and nine A340s. It said its commitment also includes three options.

Qatar Airways allegedly is considering plans to cancel the entirety of its Boeing order owing to repeated 787 delays, according to Dow Jones. It has orders for 60 787s including options and 24 777s including freighters and options. "The writing is in the wall for Boeing and they don't care. They're too busy having lunches and dinners," CEO Akbar Al Baker told the news service, adding that QR's issues have "gone way beyond" compensation. "Boeing doesn't realize how much they're hurting their customers' plans.

Flybe will wet-lease four Q400s to the re-launched Olympic Airlines from August 2009 until September 2010. Aircraft will be operated by Flybe staff and fly under its AOC. Chairman and CEO Jim French said, "Over the past 18 months or so, Flybe has been offered literally dozens of opportunities to start up or support startups globally, all of which, until this one, we have declined.

China Eastern Airlines this week firmed an order for 20 A320s, according to a filing with the Shanghai Stock Exchange.

Aviation Capital Group and Egyptian Civil Aviation Finance Holding formally established Civil Aviation Finance and Operating Leases (CIAF-Leasing) at this week's Paris Air Show. The new lessor will concentrate primarily on new and younger narrowbody aircraft to be operated by customers in North Africa and the Middle East, CIAF Holding Chairman and CEO Medhat Hassanein confirmed to ATWOnline. He said he is targeting a portfolio of about 50 narrowbodies within five years, with some of the aircraft placed with EgyptAir. Operations are expected to begin in the 2009 fourth quarter.

Aerolineas Argentinas took delivery of one purchased 737-700, with a second scheduled to arrive before the end of the month. It will lease nine further -700s/-800s "in the following months" as it replaces its 737-200s and MD-80s.