Boeing booked 35 737 orders from unidentified customer(s) during the week ended June 10, the company indicated on its Orders and Deliveries website.

Cyprus Airways is considering a partial renewal of its fleet to cut down on its growing fuel bill, it said this week. "We are looking at the possibility of a part renewal of our aircraft in some depth. We expect to have a partly renewed fleet by the next summer season," Chairman Kikis Lazarides said at a Nicosia news conference, Reuters reported. It said CY's fleet of two A319s, seven A320s and two A330-200s has an average age of 12.5 years. The airline reported a rare profit in 2007 (ATWOnline, Feb.

Boeing began the 787 power-on process this week, a critical step toward the company's being able to meet a revised schedule that has first flight slated for the 2008 fourth quarter, and said full power-on likely will be achieved in 10-14 days following tests of various systems during coming days.

Pratt & Whitney reached multiyear agreements with United Airlines and Southwest Airlines to provide its EcoPower engine wash system offered by its Global Service Partners division. Technology, which is expected to result in significant fuel savings and emissions reductions, features a closed-loop system with atomized water that works to prevent contaminant runoff.

Boeing is coming under, and resisting, intense pressure from airlines to increase production of the 777-300ER, with the first availability for new orders now quoted as 2014.

Air Astana signed its firm order for six A320s, finalizing an MOU reached last December (ATWOnline, June 9). Aircraft will seat up to 148 passengers in a two-class layout. No engine choice has been made, Airbus said.

Air France is urging manufacturers to launch a medium-haul aircraft program that will generate greater fuel efficiency gains compared to the current 737 and A320 family offerings.

A Sudan Airways A310 en route from Damascus to Khartoum caught fire after landing, leading to as many as 120 fatalities, according to some reports, though it does appear that many passengers were able to escape. The aircraft, believed to be carrying 217 passengers and crew, landed at Khartoum in the midst of a sandstorm and heavy rain, according to numerous reports. A Sudanese official said on Sudanese TV that "it landed safely. . .and [pilots] talked to the control tower which told them where to taxi. At this moment an explosion happened."