The Alitalia board on Saturday unanimously agreed to accept an offer by Air France KLM to acquire control of the ailing Italian carrier--subject, however, to a number of what the parties call "effectiveness conditions" that must be fulfilled by March 31.

GMG Airlines, a private Bangladeshi airline launched in 1998, and Israeli flag carrier El Al announced orders for long-haul Boeing aircraft over the weekend. GMG announced Sunday that it will purchase three 787-9s and three 777-300ERs. Boeing did not confirm, but GMG CEO Shahab Sattar revealed the order to several media outlets. He told Agence France Presse in Dhaka that the deal with Boeing has been "finalized" and that the carrier is "now fine-tuning some details with our financiers. We hope to sign the deal within the next six weeks."

M1 Travel of Lebanon confirmed options on three E-190s in a deal worth $112.5 million at list prices, completing an order for five aircraft placed 13 months ago. M1 retained two additional options. Deliveries of new orders will commence next year.

Rolls-Royce last week won a $2 billion deal from US Airways for Trent 700s to power up to 30 A330-200s, as well as a Trent 700 order from EgyptAir. Along with an accompanying TotalCare services agreement, the US contract includes powerplants for 15 firm and up to 15 additional aircraft. "This decision further establishes Rolls-Royce as a true engine partner with US Airways," R-R Civil Aerospace President Mark King said. Execution of definitive contract agreements is expected in the coming months and delivery is scheduled to begin next year.

ABX Air won a US FAA STC for the Wingspeed Corp. XLLink Flight Information Architecture it selected last year for voice and data communications on 13 767-200SF charter aircraft.

Avianca reached a $750 million, 15-year OnPoint Solutions deal with GE Aviation for MRO services on CFM56-5B engines powering 50 A319s/A320s. Work will be performed at GE's Celma shop in Petropolis, Brazil. Avianca took delivery of its first A320 last week, a -200 on lease from CIT Aerospace. It is the first of three aircraft CIT will deliver to the Colombian carrier this year.

A surge in new aircraft orders helped boost Embraer's 2007 net income to $489.3 million, a 25.4% increase over the $390.1 million earned in the prior year. The Brazilian manufacturer reported sales of $5.25 billion, up 39.6%. Its firm-order backlog increased 9.3% over the previous year, reaching a record high of $18.8 billion, and comprised 764 firm orders plus 786 options.

Boeing secured orders for an additional 35 787s, all for unidentified customers, that are part of 85 new aircraft orders the manufacturer listed this week. It also sold 40 737s and 10 777s, again to unnamed customers. The orders take its 2008 total to 275, comprising173 737s, one 747, 26 777s and 75 787s.