China Eastern Airlines and AVIC I launched their Joy Air joint venture in Beijing Friday with an eye on supporting the development of domestically produced aircraft and tapping the regional market in western China.

AirAsia X, as expected, signed for an additional 10 392-seat A330-300s, bringing the airline's commitment to the type to 25. The additional 10 aircraft will be delivered to the long-haul LCC progressively over the next five years.

Malaysia Airlines told the Bernama national news agency that it has "yet to make a decision" on the replacement for its 737s and A330s, but according to CFO Azmil Zahruddin that decision is close. The airline has issued RFPs for 55 narrowbody and 55 twin-aisle aircraft and a recent unidentified order posted by Boeing for 85 aircraft made up of 35 787s, 40 737s and 10 777s has some analysts speculating that MAS is the buyer (ATWOnline, March 14). The airline has a fleet of 111 aircraft.

JetBlue founder and Chairman David Neeleman is trying his hand at starting yet another airline and signed a contract yesterday for 36 E-195s to operate in Brazil. The new carrier will be based in Sao Paulo, where Neeleman was born, and is targeting a 2009 launch. It eventually will serve most major Brazilian markets, flying up to 76 195s by 2013. The agreement with Embraer includes options on 20 aircraft plus 20 purchase rights. The firm order is valued at $1.4 billion and the 118-seaters will feature LiveTV satellite IFE, a first for a Brazilian airline.

Turkmenistan Airlines signed for two 737-900ERs and one 737-700 worth $221 million at list prices, Boeing announced. No delivery date was announced.

Airbus said yesterday that it has "terminated negotiations" with MT Aerospace regarding the divestiture of three German industrial plants and conceded that talks with other companies on sales of plants in the UK and France, while still ongoing, are proving difficult in the current economic environment. As part of its Power8 restructuring program, Airbus and parent EADS committed to partially or completely selling off major industrial plants to "partners" that will share in the risk, development and construction of the A350 XWB.

ANA yesterday effectively launched the 70/90-seat Mitsubishi Regional Jet program with an order for 15 plus 10 options for the MRJ90 with delivery scheduled after 2013.

Bombardier confirmed that German LCC airberlin is the customer that placed a firm order for 10 Q400s plus 10 options last October. The airline had requested that its identity be kept confidential at that time. The firm order contract is valued at $267 million and would rise to approximately $540 million if all options are exercised. It marks the company's first turboprop order. AB expects to receive four Q400s this year and the remaining six in 2009. The 76-seaters are intended primarily to replace F100s, which Berlin-based Germania operates for AB.