KLM appointed Cabot Aviation to remarket 13 737-300s/-400s to be phased out between 2010 and 2012.

Source close to the Sukhoi Superjet program questioned an RIA Novosti report that Russia's United Aircraft Corp. plans to reduce its Superjet 100 production to 74 aircraft from the 230 it planned to build by 2012. It still plans to deliver the first SSJ this year to launch customer Aeroflot. The source told ATWOnline that he had received no official word regarding any SSJ production cut, but the Moscow-based news agency said UAC planned to build only 196 commercial aircraft in 2009-12 rather than the 405 approved for production two years ago.

Boeing took cancellations for 25 787s during the week ended May 5, according to its Orders and Deliveries website, but it did not say whether the cancellations came from a single or multiple customers. Including the eight Dreamliners firmed up by Gulf Air last month and the 32 cancellations previously announced (ATWOnline, April 17), the manufacturer's 787 net order book for the year to date stands at -49.

Tarom yesterday took delivery of its first 68-seat ATR 72-500 as part of a contract signed last year for two valued at $37 million. It will take the second before year end and currently operates seven 42-500s. CEO Ruxandra Brutaru said the new aircraft will be used to launch flights to Dubrovnik and Zagreb.

International Communications Group announced an agreement with Rockwell Collins to provide its ICG NxtLink Iridium communications systems (voice and datalink flight deck communications) for air transport customers. Rockwell Collins is marketing the devices as the IRT 2110 (dual channel) and IRT 2120 (tri channel) Iridium systems. Units are available for delivery.

Turkish Airlines firmed its order for five 777-300ERs announced in March (ATWOnline, March 26). The aircraft are worth $1.36 billion at list prices, Boeing announced. THY currently operates three -300ERs on lease from Jet Airways. Separately, THY launched a thrice-weekly Istanbul Ataturk-Benghazi flight. The Libyan city is its sixth new destination this year. Its summer schedule features a 24% year-over-year rise in ASKs and a 12% increase in number of flights.

Citing "specific customer requests for deferrals" as well as the economic and industry downturn, Airbus yesterday slashed its A380 production and delivery schedule this year and next. The manufacturer now expects to deliver 14 A380s in 2009, down from the 18 previously planned and the 21 announced in May 2008. It said yesterday that "more than 20" aircraft will be manufactured and delivered in 2010. An Airbus spokesperson told ATWOnline yesterday that no firm 2010 schedule had been announced, although Bloomberg News reported that it intended to deliver nearly 30.

Boeing expressed confidence that the 787 will be certified on time for delivery to ANA in the first quarter of next year despite a pessimistic research report released last week. The manufacturer responded to Bernstein Research's cautious assessment (ATWOnline, May 5), saying it "understood the natural tendency toward skepticism based on past program performance" while claiming that the report included several errors.