ANA confirmed to ATWOnline that it has not yet decided to order the A380 as widely reported late last week and in fact has not even issued an RFP. A spokesperson told this website that the airline set up a New Aircraft Selection Committee last week to examine both the A380 and the 747-8. "No RFPs have gone out yet," the spokesperson said, adding that ANA will decide among the 747-8, the A380 or continuing to build its long-haul fleet around the 777-300ER.

MK Airlines and Freight Feeder Aircraft Corp. signed a letter of intent for the purchase of 10 FF5000 Freight Feeder Aircraft plus five options, the companies announced in a joint statement. Officials of both Freight Feeder and MK, the UK-based carrier that suspended operations last month but re-launched shortly afterward after securing new funding (ATWOnline, June 24), plan to meet within the year to complete final negotiations.

Embraer delivered 43 commercial aircraft during the second quarter, up significantly from 27 delivered in the second three months of 2007. Deliveries comprised two ERJ-145s, one E-170, 14 E-175s, 21 E-190s and five E-195s. First semester commercial deliveries totaled 18 compared to 47 last year, and the company reaffirmed its forecast of 195-200 total deliveries in 2008 including its business jet segment. As of June 30 its firm order backlog included 41 ERJ-145s (all for China's Hainan Airlines), 46 E-170s, 46 E-175s, 270 E-190s and 75 E-195s.

China Southern Airlines announced its intention to sell 12 MD-82s and four 777-200s.

Gulf Air received two A321-200s on lease from Macquarie AirFinance.

Boeing delivered 126 commercial aircraft in the second quarter, up 10.5% from the 114 delivered in the three months ended June 30, 2007. Deliveries comprised 100 737NGs (compared to 86 in the year-ago quarter), five 747s (compared to four), three 767s (three) and 18 777s (21). Year-to-date deliveries totaled 241, up 9.5% from 220. Separately, Boeing announced delivery of a 737-800 to Canada's Sunwing Airlines. Aircraft will be operated on lease from Aviation Capital Group. Sunwing will lease a second from ACG next year, at which time its fleet will comprise 15 -800s.

Russia's Irkut Corp. announced plans to develop a new large transport as a successor to the Tu-154, with certification planned for 2015. The MC-21 will be offered in three models seating 150-210 passengers.

Aircraft Solutions announced the sale of two CRJ200LRs to Sky Swallows and two -200LRs to Avmax International Aircraft Leasing.