Alitalia scheduled a board meeting for late today following the decision by the outgoing government to grant the ailing carrier a €300 million ($477.9 million) emergency bridge loan to continue operations (ATWOnline, April 23). AZ's management is scheduled to meet with its unions this morning.

Boeing announced record first-quarter earnings of $1.21 billion, up 38% from $877 million reported in the year-ago period, on a 4% increase in sales to $15.99 billion. Despite hiccups in the 787 program, Chairman, President and CEO Jim McNerney said the company was "off to a good start" in what he expects to be "another strong year." Total company backlog as of March 31 reached a record $346 billion, up 32% year-over-year, with growth driven by commercial airplane and V-22 multiyear orders.

United Airlines parent UAL Corp. suffered a massive $537 million loss in the first quarter, widened precipitously from a $152 million deficit in the year-ago period, and said Tuesday that it will "fundamentally overhaul every facet of our business," starting with the grounding of 30 aircraft and the laying off of 1,100 employees.

Airbus beginning May 1 will add $2 million to the list price of each single-aisle aircraft and $4 million to each widebody. The increases, which it said are owing to the continued decline of the US dollar and higher metal prices, are on top of the "normal" 2.74% escalation. The manufacturer said the dollar's decline translates into a more-than-15% devaluation. Compounding the problem, metal prices have risen by at least 6.5%.

Biman Bangladesh Airlines and Boeing finalized a previously announced commitment for four 777-300ERs and four 787-8s at a signing ceremony yesterday in Dhaka (ATWOnline, March 12).

Outgoing Italian government yesterday approved a €300 million ($475.7 million) loan to Alitalia that may prevent the cash-strapped airline from going bankrupt before newly elected Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi finds new investors.

SilkAir chose IAE V2500s to power 11 firm and nine option A320s to be delivered between 2009 and 2013. Engines will be the SelectOne build standard and the deal includes aftermarket support.

Asiana Airlines is preparing to place a significant order for 787s or A350 XWBs, bringing one of the year's most intense sales battles to a close. Speaking to ATWOnline in Seoul, Vice Chairman and CEO Chan Bup Park said an announcement is expected by the end of June. Asiana is looking to both buy and lease aircraft and in the interim is seeking two more 777-200ERs, a similar number of A330-200s as well as A321s. It will take delivery of two -200ERs this year. It also is weighing the A380 and 747-8 for replacement of its three 747-400Cs and two 747-400 passenger aircraft.