Cebu Pacific Air took delivery of its sixth ATR 72-500 Monday. It also operates 10 A319s and nine A320s.

Rolls-Royce inked a deal with Etihad Airways for provision of Trent 700EPs to power eight A330s. Contract is valued at $575 million and includes long-term services under a TotalCare agreement. Aircraft are scheduled for delivery between 2009 and 2011. Order will bring Etihad's fleet of Rolls-powered A330s to 24.

Pratt & Whitney received US FAR 33 certification approving the airworthiness of its PW4000 Advantage70 engine upgrade, projected to deliver a 2% thrust increase while decreasing fuel consumption by 1%. Slated to enter service on PW4000-100s in mid-2009, Advantage70 is expected to boost durability and reduce maintenance costs. New engines will fly initially on the A330-200 and A330-300.

Cargo B Airlines took delivery of its first new 747-400F on dry lease from Nippon Cargo Airlines. The Brussels-based carrier, which commenced operations in October 2007, will use the aircraft initially on thrice-weekly flights serving Sao Paulo Guarulhos, Quito and Bogota. It is seeking a second -400F to replace its two 747-200Fs.

Qatar Airways took delivery of its fifth 777-300ER yesterday. Aircraft will seat 335 passengers with 42 in business class and 293 in economy and will be used on QR's 11-times-weekly Doha-Manila service. The carrier has firm orders for 14 -300ERs, six 777-200LRs and seven 777-200Fs with deliveries scheduled through mid-2010.

Boeing yesterday announced a deal with Southwest Airlines to serve as lead integrator for the carrier's 737-300/-700 flight deck upgrade to incorporate performance-based navigation capabilities. Contract includes design, installation and integration of hardware and software from multiple suppliers as well as flight testing and certification. Integration program calls for 737-300 modification with avionics supplied by GE Aviation, Honeywell and Rockwell Collins. GE Aviation said it won a $40 million deal with Southwest to provide its SDS-6000 large area display suite.

British Airways placed a firm order for six E-170s and five E-190SRs, plus options on a further three 190SRs, for its wholly owned BA CityFlyer regional subsidiary. The firm aircraft are worth $376.5 million at list prices "based on January 2008 economic conditions," and the deal could reach $489 million if all options are confirmed, Embraer said.

Five passengers remained in the hospital yesterday as the US National Transportation Safety Board's Go Team continued to investigate the Saturday evening crash of a Continental Airlines 737-500 that veered from Denver International Airport's runway 34R while on its takeoff roll, crossed a field and a taxiway, careened down a 40-ft. hill and caught fire.