Sukhoi Superjet 100 moved closer to its first flight, scheduled for later this month, with the successful completion of the first taxi and run tests of the new regional aircraft, Sukhoi Civil Aircraft Co. announced yesterday. The run tests featured a gradual speed increase up to 162 kph, which is close the actual speed required for takeoff.

Hit hard by surging oil prices and competition from the Taiwan High Speed Rail on domestic city-pairs, local carriers expect to reap benefits from the first commercial flights across the Taiwan Strait, which are scheduled to be permitted starting July 4.

China moved one step closer to achieving its "dream" of manufacturing "jumbo aircraft" by establishing Commercial Aircraft Corp. of China in Shanghai yesterday. The company is charged with building civil aircraft, with a particular focus on large commercial jets, likely in the 150-seat size category. Beijing has said it could compete with some Boeing and Airbus models by 2020 (ATWOnline, April 10, 2007).

El Al placed an order valued at $850 million for four 777-200ERs plus two options. Boeing noted that the airline has the right to convert the -200ERs to -300ERs. The Israeli carrier's fleet already includes six 777s.

GE Aviation expects to deliver nearly 500 CF34s in 2008 based on current order books for regional aircraft, GM-CF34 Program Chuck Nugent said, adding that 700 deliveries in 2010 are possible. Engines from the CF34 family are used to power regional aircraft in the 50/120-seat category. Nugent said at the Regional Airline Assn. meeting in Indianapolis last week that GE has invested $2 billion in developing the CF34 series and expects to spend more than $1 billion this year for new technology that will enhance fuel consumption and lower maintenance costs.

Boeing has estimated a 15-month delay in 787 deliveries (ATWOnline, April 10) but some customers are facing delays of two years or more, The Seattle Times reported. Launch customer ANA is scheduled to receive its first aircraft in the third quarter of 2009 instead of this month, but the manufacturer's ambitious ramp-up plans also have slipped and full production of 10 planes per month will not be reached until 2012, two years later than planned.

Etihad Airways will lease two new A320-200s from CIT Aerospace, the lessor announced. Aircraft are powered by IAE V2527-A5s and will be delivered by year end.

Shanghai-based Spring Airlines plans to order 30 A320s and expand its fleet to 100 aircraft by 2015, according to Chairman Wang Zhenghua. Wang said the company is awaiting regulatory approval for the order. The LCC currently operates eight A320s on a network spanning more than 30 Chinese cities. It expects its fleet to number 30 by 2010 and increase to 100 by 2015, at which point half the fleet will be leased and half owned.