British Airways placed an order for two 777-300ERs valued at $529 million and agreed to lease four more from GECAS, Boeing said yesterday. Two of the four to be leased are new orders placed by the lessor, the manufacturer said, with the remaining two part of a 2007 order. Including the latest two, GECAS has ordered 25 777s (a combination of freighters and -300ERs) since 2006. BA also secured four 777-300ER options directly with Boeing, the manufacturer said yesterday.

Boeing forecast that global annual air cargo traffic growth will average 5.8% over the next 20 years, a downgrade from the 6.1% average annual growth it previously predicted, but projected robust growth in the worldwide freighter aircraft fleet through 2027.

ANA and Japan Airlines are looking to cut underperforming domestic and international routes. ANA told media that it may suspend 10 routes, while Nikkei Business Daily suggested that JAL may suspend 21 routes. Both airlines are expected to make formal announcements by the end of this week.

Singapore Airlines logged its 1,000th A380 commercial flight when SQ322 landed at London Heathrow Monday. It said its five aircraft have performed "remarkably" since entering service last October. They have accumulated 8,500 flight hr. and carried nearly 400,000 customers. More than 220,000 have traveled on the Singapore-Sydney route. The sixth A380 is scheduled to arrive in September, with a further 13 to follow. SIA has options on an additional six.

Air One selected GE's CF6-80E1 to power its new 12 firm and eight option A330s (ATWOnline, June 5). The firm engine order is valued at more than $480 million at list prices. Deliveries will begin in 2010. The Italian carrier also signed a 15-year OnPoint Solution agreement for maintenance and overhaul of the new CF6-80E1s as well as its leased CF6-80E1-powered A330s. The OnPoint agreement is valued at more than $250 million over the life of the contract. AP launched flights from Milan-Malpensa to Chicago O'Hare and Boston in June.

British Airways said last week that it has ordered six new 777-300ERs for delivery beginning in 2010. Boeing issued a statement Friday saying it is "pleased that [BA] has reinforced its longstanding relationship with Boeing by agreeing to purchase Boeing 777-300ERs for its long-haul fleet" and that it "looks forward to finalizing the contractual details of [BA's] selection."

Embraer reported net income of $134.4 million for the second quarter, nearly double the $67.3 million earned in the year-ago period. Revenue rose 47.3% to $1.63 billion and the backlog hit a record $20.7 billion, including $6 billion for business aircraft. Strong sales of commercial and executive aircraft boosted the bottom line, the company said. It delivered 52 aircraft during the quarter, up 44.4% year-over-year.

Emirates President Tim Clark is leaving the door open for the 747-8I, which he termed an "excellent aircraft." Commenting in the context of EK's weight reduction program on the A380 designed to give it more range for US West Coast operations (see story above), Clark said Boeing is working on some innovations for the -8I to meet the Emirates performance requirements. "We are still looking at the 747-8I," he confirmed. "A lot depends on our expansion plans relating to the completion of Al-Maktoum International Airport at Jebel Ali in Dubai."